In the nordics bribing police to guard you is not allowed. Current rules in Finland are so that police can't (and mainly won't) accept any discounts or free items, especially if they're only targeted to police.
Does Finland have out of control crime problem?
Well no. The reason gas stations did it was mainly to calm down local youngsters and reduce the likelihood of vandalism with the presence of police.
I'm not sure why but I find this deeply icky.
*got it
It's the idea that Police officers are going to be standing around in Waitrose whilst regular people are unable to get more than a crime number off the police if someone breaks into their home and steals their dead Nan's jewelry collection.
I agree entirely. Their bribe, I mean offer does a good job of highlighting how useless they see the police otherwise.
Crazy idea I know, but some shops employ a "security guard" for this purpose. They have to pay them with money instead of warm drinks, but as the security guard works directly for them, nobody can complain that they're hogging the attention of very thinly-spread police resources.
Security guards are there only to be witnesses to crimes when committed, for the police if/when they show up, as far as I know.
Security guards in the UK don't have any rights, they can't arrest, they can't use force, they can't do shit. They are nothing more than a decoration, sadly.
That's why cops became associated with donuts in America. Essentially worked as a bribe to get them to guard the place.
American police get free doughnuts, become known as pigs.
British police get free lattes from Waitrose ... become known as prosciutto?
Fuckheads. This is already a huge issue in the US, please don't let it spread here.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
John Lewis Partnership, which owns both brands, has written to the Police Federation to say officers can make the most of the offer - as long as they bring a reusable cup.
The group said its chair Dame Sharon White had also written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman calling for tougher action against repeat and violent offenders.
With a rise in incidents on the shop floor, it has also had to increase spending on the number of guards and staff it employs who are trained to stop and detain shoplifters.
It has also trialled what it called "love bombing" in some of its stores - being extra attentive to customers, including asking if help is needed at self-checkouts, to act as a potential deterrent.
It even suggested that some communities could eventually become "no-go" areas, with retail crime driven by "repeat and prolific offenders and, organised criminal gangs".
Its crime survey suggested that nearly 850 incidents were taking place every day, with staff facing physical assault and being threatened with weapons on some occasions.
The original article contains 442 words, the summary contains 174 words. Saved 61%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!
It has also trialled what it called “love bombing” in some of its stores - being extra attentive to customers, including asking if help is needed at self-checkouts, to act as a potential deterrent.
Wow. Now when someone asks if I need help at a self-checkout I'll wonder if they think I'm trying to steal something!
Will they be installing half height counters to cope with the inability get up from kneeling or bending to hand food and drink items to the JSO mob lying in the roads?
I thought the left hates the police?
Why would you think a big corporation is "the left"?
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