Iceland launches £1 shopper reward for reporting shoplifters

Iceland offers a £1 bonus on loyalty cards to shoppers who report a suspected shoplifter, a move that draws debate over safety and cost.

Iceland rewards shoppers for reporting shoplifters with £1 bonus

Iceland has launched a scheme that gives customers a £1 reward on their Bonus Card when they tell staff about a suspected shoplifter. Staff will verify the incident before the reward is added to the shopper’s card for use in stores.

The move comes as shoplifting offences in England and Wales rose to record levels in 2024, according to official statistics. The retailer says theft costs it about £20 million each year and diverts resources that could otherwise fund staff hours or lower prices. Retailers note a shift toward organised crime and say the problem is spreading beyond big cities into towns and villages. Government talks on crime and policing bills aim to strengthen penalties and support for store workers, while retailers have invested in security like cameras and facial recognition technologies.

The plan puts a burden on customers to act as a security layer. It may deter theft, but it also raises safety concerns for shoppers and staff and risks misidentifications. There is a fine line between making a store safer and creating risky situations in crowded aisles. The policy reflects a broader push to cut losses in a high inflation era, yet it could undermine trust if people feel pressured to police others. The move also comes amid political pressure to reform low level theft laws, a topic that could shape future retail policy and public attitudes toward crime.

Highlights

Policy shifts will test how customers balance safety, trust, and cost in their everyday shopping.