Security staff have been employed to patrol at least two Coop stores in Guernsey.

The retailer has indicated that it’s down to shoplifting in the Market Street and Nocq Road stores.

However, the CEO said there hasn’t been a “significant increase” and that the supermarket chain has a good working relationship with Guernsey Police who have “taken incidents seriously and acted promptly on complaints”.

Pictured: A security guard has been seen working at the Nocq Road and Market Street Coop stores (file image).

A male security guard has been seen working in the Coop Grande Marché on Nocq Road at least twice in the past week.

It’s understood security staff have been employed there and at the smaller Market Street ‘Locale’ store for some time.

In response to questions about the security staff, CI Coop CEO Mark Cox said that “shoplifting is not a victimless crime” and that “the resulting losses can impact pricing” while putting staff in difficult situations.

“We have not experienced any significant increase in shoplifting, reflecting the effectiveness of our in-store measures and the strong external support in place,” he said.

“The police are responsive and supportive, taking incidents seriously and acting promptly on complaints, which stands in positive contrast to the situation currently seen in the UK.

“It should also be recognised that shoplifting is not a victimless crime; it has genuine financial and social consequences for businesses, employees, and the wider community. While it is sometimes portrayed as minor or harmless, the resulting losses can impact pricing and place colleagues in challenging and difficult situations to manage.”

Pictured: Jersey’s newspaper reported security staff working at a Coop store in the island in 2024 after problems with its car park.

While it is unusual to see security staff in any retail setting in Guernsey, they have been employed in local shops previously.

During the covid pandemic, security measures were increased at supermarkets with guards patrolling the aisles at the Waitrose store on the Rohais among other measures taken elsewhere to try and combat panic buying.

The CI Coop has also had to employ security guards itself in Jersey previously, after the “misuse” of the store car park at the St Helier Millennium Park Grande Marché sparked problems in 2024.