Holland and Barrett has hired private detectives to patrol its stores with high crime rates. The health and wellness retailer, which sells vitamins, supplements and organic foods, revealed that plain-clothes detectives are now operating in certain locations.
Concerns Over High Street Behaviour
Chief executive Anthony Houghton described the situation to The Times as “not acceptable”, adding: “it’s awful that we have to do this”. The retailer said Manuka honey is one of the most targeted products due to its size and price, while sports nutrition items such as protein powder and pre-workout drinks are also stolen for resale.
Technology and Security Measures
Holland and Barrett is working with software firm Auror, which specialises in retail crime intelligence. The technology tracks shoplifting and identifies repeat offenders. The retailer then sends detectives to stores in areas flagged by Auror. The company employs 10,000 people, all of whom wear bodycams, and confirmed a rise in violence targeted at employees in the year ending last September.
Mr Houghton said: “Staff members try to help people with their health and wellness, so to be on the receiving end of aggression, abuse or people shouting, it’s never nice.”
National Shoplifting Trends
Last year saw shoplifting levels at their highest ever since records began, with the Office for National Statistics reporting that shop theft has quickly risen since the pandemic. Recent figures show a slight drop, but organisations including the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) are still calling on the Government to intervene.
Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary, said: “Retail crime remains at epidemic levels with over half a million shop theft incidents recorded. This is not a victimless crime. Dealing with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers on the frontline.”
She added that the union campaigned for substantial legislative measures and is pleased that the Government passed the Crime and Policing Act in April 2026. “The Act delivers a much-needed protection of retail workers' law; ends the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters and introduces Respect Orders for offenders. Labour has also started the process of reforming police services, to put a greater focus on local crime, and has delivered over 3,000 additional police officers and PCSOs into neighbourhood roles. It is our hope that these new measures will help turn the tide on shop theft and give retail workers the safe working environment they deserve.”
