Retail Harm - Operation Zoridon

Dear Valley Ward Members,

Retail Harm

Retail Harm refers to the negative impacts of criminal activity and unsafe conditions in retail environments, which include financial losses from theft, physical and emotional harm to the retail employees and customers, and damage to the businesses. It encompasses various crimes like shoplifting and more serious offences like assaults, threats and verbal abuse directed at staff and customers.

What is the Met doing to tackle this issue? 

Operation Zoridon was a proactive policing operation to disrupt venues handling stolen goods and resulted in the execution of 14 warrants and 105 licensing checks across London. During the operation, over 4,000 exhibits were seized and £90,000 in cash were recovered. During the operation, officers used both Police and partner legislation to close 9 venues who were selling stolen, counterfeit or items that were unsafe. The operation led to fifteen arrests for a range of offences, including: conspiracy to handle stolen goods.

Superintendent Luke Baldock, lead officer for Operation Zoridon added: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and the gangs involved are organised and have links to drugs and violence. Rogue shopkeepers who trade in stolen goods are funding criminal activity and driving up costs for everyone. They’re keeping thieves in business at the expense of hard working, law-abiding retailers. During the Met’s largest ever operation to tackle shoplifting, we’ve made arrests, seized stolen goods and issued emergency closure orders. We will now need the support of the courts to secure longer closure orders and shut down these illicit shops for good.”