An activist group calling itself Take Back Power has claimed responsibility for a coordinated mass shoplifting campaign across several UK cities, stating that members "liberated boxes of food" from supermarkets to supply local food banks.
The group, which describes itself as a non-violent civil resistance organisation, said supporters in London, Manchester, Exeter, and Truro "took back food and necessities from supermarkets and redistributed them to local food banks" on Saturday. Activists reportedly entered stores, filling boxes emblazoned with the message "these things are going to those that need them" before leaving without paying.
Take Back Power defended its actions, arguing that "what's legal isn't necessarily an indication of what's moral or right" and that it was "necessary for ordinary people to be stepping into action given the scale of crisis our country faces." A spokesperson said: "I accept that going into shops and taking things without paying is against the law. But I really do think that we need to be looking at what is more of a problem in society is the fact that we’ve got a significant number of people having to go to food banks."
The Metropolitan Police said no arrests had been made in London as officers were told by shop staff that a "member of the group subsequently paid for the items." However, Take Back Power denied paying, claiming activists had "set up a stall that was technically still on the property of the supermarket" meaning "no crime was committed, because none of the produce actually ended up leaving the site."
In Exeter, the group said five supporters took five boxes of produce from a Morrisons supermarket but security confiscated two boxes. In Manchester, three activists filled boxes from a Tesco store and redistributed the food to a food bank drop-off point at a local Aldi. In Truro, two supporters loaded boxes from a Sainsbury's and left the produce at a food bank drop-off point in the same store.
This action follows the arrest of 15 activists from the group earlier this month on suspicion of conspiracy to commit theft. Take Back Power has previously claimed responsibility for stunts including throwing apple crumble and custard at the Crown Jewels display case in the Tower of London and dumping manure outside the Ritz Hotel. The group has called for a citizen-led assembly with the power to tax the rich.
