Marks & Spencer Calls for Action on Retail Crime 2026

Key Points

• Marks & Spencer (M&S) leadership is pressing for stronger government and police action against retail crime.
• Retail director Thinus Keeve wrote to London mayor Sadiq Khan seeking greater support for enforcement.
• M&S CEO Stuart Machin also addressed concerns directly to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
• M&S external affairs director Adam Hawksbee told BBC Radio 4 that staff fear coming to work as gangs target stores.
• A major police response occurred on 1 April in Clapham, London, with about 100 officers deployed amid anti-social behaviour.
• Six teenage girls were arrested, five people assaulted, including four officers.
• Keeve detailed multiple violent and organised thefts at M&S outlets, calling the problem “systemic and growing.”
• Mayor’s office affirmed its support for Met Police’s targeted approach and neighbourhood policing.
• M&S executives urged for coordinated government, police and industry responses.
• Related retail crimes were reported over Easter weekend in Rochdale and Solihull.
• Industry surveys show increasing abuse and threats against retail staff across the UK.

London (Britain Today News) April 7, 2026 – Marks & Spencer has called for urgent, coordinated measures to tackle rising retail crime after a string of violent incidents and organised thefts at its stores across the UK. The retailer’s leadership says the problem has become more severe and systematic, posing risks to both employees and customers.

Why Is M&S Urging Swift Government Action on Retail Crime?

Retail director Thinus Keeve confirmed he had formally written to Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan seeking enhanced police support, describing current responses as inconsistent and inadequate. Keeve said M&S has witnessed thefts

“becoming more brazen, more organised and more aggressive,”

urging stronger, faster enforcement using existing policing tools to track repeat offenders and address crime hotspots.

As Keeve explained,

“We need to recognise this for what it is — a systemic issue, a growing issue, and one that demands a coordinated response across government, policing and industry.”

He added that staff have faced alarming violence, including assaults and chemical attacks, in recent weeks alone.

How Has the M&S Team Experienced Retail Crime First-Hand?

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, external affairs director Adam Hawksbee said M&S stores were now under routine threat from criminal gangs, with personnel

“worried about coming into work.”

Hawksbee noted the issue has intensified despite M&S investing “tens of millions” in security upgrades such as on-site guards and surveillance systems.

“It does feel, in the past weeks and months, that the problem is getting worse,”

Hawksbee said, adding that the company can only do so much without better data-led policing and cooperation from authorities. He confirmed that CEO Stuart Machin had already written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood before the Clapham disorder unfolded, emphasising that the retailer had long intended to escalate the discussion at government level.

What Happened During the Clapham Incident?

According to Met Police statements, the 1 April incident in Clapham saw “several hundred young people” gathered, with many entering an M&S store and causing chaos. Around 100 police officers were dispatched to contain the disturbance. Six teenage girls were arrested after two antisocial incidents reportedly “fuelled by online trends.” Authorities recorded five assaults, including four police officers, and said further arrests were expected.

Keeve described this as part of a disturbing pattern, citing multiple recent cases: gangs forcing open locked cabinets and emptying shelves of high-value items, groups ransacking stores, and staff assaulted while intervening.

“In one week alone,”

he said,

“we’ve had a colleague hospitalised after ammonia was thrown in their face.”

How Has London’s Mayor Responded?

A spokesperson for Mayor Sadiq Khan said that

“shoplifting is not a victimless crime”

and acknowledged the increasing anxiety among retail workers. The statement emphasised a “renewed focus” on neighbourhood policing, including doubling Met officers in the West End and targeting hotspot areas across the capital. They stressed that more must still be done to tackle organised retail crime.

“The mayor will continue working with the Met to address the issue,”

the spokesperson added.

What Are Broader National Implications of the Retail Crime Surge?

Beyond London, M&S reported criminal incidents in Rochdale and Solihull over the Easter weekend. Industry data suggests a surge nationwide: a recent Institute of Customer Service survey found that 43% of UK retail workers had been exposed to hostility or abuse in the six months to October 2025, up from 36% the previous year. Alarmingly, 26% said they had called in sick as a consequence of such abuse.

These figures highlight how the threat of retail crime extends well beyond theft, eroding morale and workforce stability across Britain’s high streets. Keeve reiterated that only joint efforts between retailers, law enforcement and policymakers can curb the rise in aggression within shops.

What Are the Next Steps Proposed by M&S?

Hawksbee said the company intends to spearhead collaborative talks with government bodies to identify solutions.

“Local and national leaders need to get round the table, roll up their sleeves and deal with this challenge because, at the moment, it feels like it’s going in the wrong direction,”

he urged.

M&S has signalled that it will continue pressing ministers and police chiefs for improved coordination, faster data-sharing, and stronger prosecutions against repeat offenders. Senior management remains adamant that without unified action, the retail safety crisis could spiral further into violence and widespread disruption.