The head of the Metropolitan Police has expressed bewilderment over the sacking of a Morrisons store manager who lost his job after confronting a shoplifter. Sir Mark Rowley, the UK's most senior police officer, said he would always encourage the public to help in the fight against crime and voiced surprise that the retailer had not supported 46-year-old Sean Egan, who was dismissed from the only job he had ever held.
Mr Egan was fired after tackling a thief at the supermarket's Aldridge branch in the West Midlands, a case that has ignited national debate on how retailers handle shoplifting. The store manager had worked at Morrisons for 29 years and was escorting a suspected shoplifter out of the building when the man became aggressive and spat at him repeatedly. Mr Egan then forced the thief out but was later dismissed at a disciplinary hearing for breaching Morrisons' deter-not-detain policy. The decision has prompted considerable backlash, with calls for his reinstatement and questions about whether strict corporate rules discourage staff from intervening in crime, even in situations where a citizens' arrest might be lawful.
Sir Mark Rowley's Intervention
Sir Mark said he completely sympathised with Mr Egan and was bewildered by the case. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he stated: 'Maybe there's something sensitive behind it that none of us know, I don't know. But on the surface, if a store manager feels able to intervene and can do that safely, we always want people to do that. We want the public to be part of the fight against crime.' He added: 'The act of a citizen is important. Policing isn't just about policing. Keeping communities safe is about all of our responsibilities.'
Sean Egan's Account
Mr Egan has said the incident has not only left him jobless but also struggling with anxiety. Describing the events leading to his dismissal, he said: 'Like many stores, we were dealing with frequent shoplifting, especially during the peak Christmas period. On this occasion, the individual was a well-known, prolific offender in the area. I followed company policy, approached calmly, offered help, and then escorted him from the store when needed. But as we neared the exit, I was spat at. In that moment, I reacted. Not as a manager. As a human being. That split second changed everything.' At his disciplinary hearing, Mr Egan was told he would be dismissed for not following the company's deter-and-not-detain policy. He wrote: 'Despite nearly three decades of loyalty, performance, and commitment, including turning numerous underperforming stores into some of the most profitable in the West Midlands, I lost my job.'
Political and Public Backlash
Sir Mark's intervention adds further pressure on Morrisons as criticism mounts over the treatment of Mr Egan. Earlier this week, shadow home secretary Chris Philp MP expressed his support for the former store manager. In a post on X, he said: 'Morrisons must immediately reinstate Sean Egan. He rightly and bravely confronted an aggressive shoplifter. Morrisons shamefully fired him - after 29 years service. Retailers must support their staff who stand up against criminals. I'm sick of criminals being allowed to do what they like and decent people like Sean getting penalised.'
Morrisons' Response
Morrisons has stated: 'We are continuing to take wide-ranging action to address the threat of shoplifting or violence in our stores. The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance to Morrisons. We have very clear guidance, procedures and controls in place to protect our colleagues and customers from the risk of harm, which must be strictly followed. These include detailed procedures for handling shoplifting incidents, which are in place to protect both the colleague involved and surrounding colleagues and customers, and which seek to de-escalate and calmly control the situation. We will not ask colleagues to put themselves at risk.' The Independent has contacted Morrisons for further comment in light of Sir Mark's comments.
The case comes amid renewed attention on shoplifting across the UK, which has hit an eight-year high, and how shops handle criminals targeting them. News of Mr Egan's sacking came just two weeks after a similar case in which a 54-year-old man was sacked by Waitrose for confronting a shoplifter at a store in south London.
