Iceland introduces £1 reward for reporting shoplifters

The retailer says shoplifting costs it about £20m a year and invites customers to report suspects for a £1 reward.

Iceland offers £1 reward for reporting shoplifters

Iceland in the United Kingdom says it will pay £1 to customers who report suspected shoplifters, with the report needing to be verified. The measure does not require the reporter to identify or detain the person, and Iceland says it will top up the customer's Bonus Card if the information helps catch a shoplifter. The announcement was made on Channel 5 News and comes as retailers face a rise in theft.

Statistics show a rising trend: 530,643 shoplifting offences in the year to March 2025, up 20% from the previous year. Nine in ten pharmacies report increases in shoplifting and aggression. The government says it will boost policing with thousands more officers by spring 2026. Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones spoke about the issue, noting it has got out of hand.

The plan shifts part of the security burden to customers, which could deter theft but risks misidentification and vigilantism. It may also affect staff safety and store culture as employees become gatekeepers of security signals. This approach reflects a broader move toward consumer-led crime prevention, blending incentives with accountability. If theft declines, costs could ease and prices might stabilise; if it backfires, trust at the checkout could fray and communities may feel spied upon.

The policy arrives amid official data showing a sharp rise in shoplifting and a government pledge to expand neighbourhood policing. Public reaction will largely determine whether the idea is seen as a practical security measure or a political flashpoint.

Highlights

The outcome will test trust at the checkout as this plan unfolds.