STORY
Eileen Fox has been dismissed from her job at a One Stop convenience store in Bootle after trying to stop a suspected shoplifter. Fox, 56, said the woman was known locally and had been stealing from the shop over a period of years.
The incident involved an attempt to take packets of bacon from the store. Fox said she grabbed the woman’s coat sleeve and that, during the scuffle, the woman bumped into a metal stand. Fox said no one was injured.
Fox was called to an investigatory meeting with senior managers and was suspended the following day. She said she was later dismissed from her job on 11 May.
A dismissal letter reported by the BBC and cited by the Guardian said Fox had “followed” the suspected shoplifter and then “grabbed her and slammed her into a metal stand”. Fox disputed that description, saying she had approached the woman while she was taking items from a shelf and had taken hold of her sleeve.
A spokesperson for One Stop said the safety of customers and colleagues was the company’s priority. The company said staff were told not to risk their own safety and were given training on how to respond to incidents, alongside investment in security measures and work with police.
Local customers and a number of businesses have supported Fox, stating that the problem of shoplifting has been getting worse and that One Stop should focus more resources on protecting team members.