Waitrose and John Lewis have started offering free hot drinks to on-duty police officers in a bid to crack down on crime such as shoplifting and violence against staff in its stores.

John Lewis Partnership has written to the Police Federation to say officers can get a free hot drink in Waitrose stores if they bring a reusable cup, The Times reported.

The “thanks a latte” initiative also includes police community support officers and the officers are also entitled to the John Lewis staff’s subsidised canteen as well as using staff seating areas and bathrooms “as part of efforts to strengthen relationships and tackle retail crime”.

Waitrose and John Lewis hope that by welcoming officers into its stores it will deter thieves, “just as drivers slow down on a motorway as soon as they sport a police car”.

JLP head of security Nicki Juniper said: “Offering these perks is a win-win. The police already work incredibly hard so will have more options to take a break, while also building even better relationships with our frontline teams.

“Just having a police car parked outside can make people think twice about shoplifting from our branches.”

Juniper added that the rise in thefts was boosted by “professional shoplifters stealing for greed” rather than a need for essential items.

Assaults on Waitrose employees have reportedly doubled since 2020 and chair Dame Sharon White said that shop thefts had “become an epidemic”.

JLP also said it has increased the number of guards and “security-trained” staff in its stores and has improved its CCTV cameras.

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