Holland & Barrett is deploying undercover detectives in its stores in an attempt to prevent theft and violent incidents against its staff, according to a report by The Sunday Times.

In an interview with the newspaper Anthony Houghton, the company’s group chief executive, said that the health and wellness retailer has an obligation to keep its staff and customers safe.

“The behaviour on the high street, it’s just not acceptable,” Houghton said. “It’s awful that we have to do this.”

One of the most frequently stolen items is Manuka honey due to its size and price. Houghton also told the paper that its sports nutrition products are also appealing to criminals looking to sell the items on.

Houghton shared with The Sunday Times that the firm has partnered with Auror, a software firm that specialises in retail crime intelligence, to track shoplifting and identify repeat offenders. Holland & Barrett deploys the detectives to its stores in areas Auror has flagged as high risk.

The company has around 10,000 employees and Houton told the paper that some of them are forced to wear body cameras in stores.

Houghton’s comments echo those made by the retail director of M&S Thinus Keeve, who in April called on the police and the UK government to take stronger action against retail crime, stating that retail crime is becoming “more brazen, more organised and more aggressive”.

He said that retail crime is a “systemic issue” which is growing and shop workers are facing abuse and violence on a daily basis in their workplace.

In February the British Retail Conortium (BRC) reported that violence and abuse against retail workers fell by a fifth last year but remain at the second highest level on record

The retail body’s research revealed that daily incidents of violence and abuse dropped from 2,000 per day in 2023/24 to around 1,600 in 2024/25. The BRC said this improvement reflected years of heavy investment by retailers in security and closer collaboration with police and government.

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