‘Responsible employer’ | Waitrose defends sacking worker who confronted Easter egg shoplifter

Waitrose is facing mounting pressure to rehire an employee it sacked after they tackled a shoplifter attempting to steal Easter eggs from a London store.

Walker Smith, a Waitrose employee of 17 years, lost his job after he went against company policy that instructed him not to confront shoplifters.

A growing number of voices are now calling on the supermarket chain to rehire Smith – among them Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who issued a public letter to Waitrose Managing Director Tom Deynard, accusing the firm of behaving “disgracefully.”

Waitrose has defended its decision, arguing that strictly enforced policies on shoplifting are vital to protecting the safety of staff and customers.