Would you confront a shoplifter and do your thing for king and country?
The Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said she would be prepared to confront a shoplifter if they were “not too big”, and urged people not just to “look away” when crimes are committed
Badenoch told Times Radio that she would personally confront a thief if she thought there was no risk to her safety
“I think it depends on how big they are,” she said. “But yes, broadly, it would be my instinct. I think people should look after their personal safety. I think those people who are stronger should do more.”
She said that the failure of the public to intervene made shoplifters and other criminals “think that they can get away with it”.
“I know that there is now a tendency for people not to put themselves in harm’s way. But I also think that sometimes we need to send a message that this is not acceptable. A lot of the shoplifting we see is of people stealing little bits and pieces from Greggs bakery.
“Sausage rolls are under lock and key. That’s not how things used to be. I think we should be able to say, no, stop that. This is not acceptable. People will do things if they think that they can get away with it.”
