Shop worker sacked after 'acting on instinct' to tackle bacon thief

A Merseyside shop worker has been sacked after "acting on instinct" to tackle a suspected thief.

Eileen Fox, 56, lost her job at a One Stop convenience store in Bootle after grabbing hold of a woman's coat sleeve after she attempted to steal packets of bacon.

The suspected shoplifter then collided with a metal display stand before fleeing the store with the goods.

Ms Fox told the BBC: "It's very harsh what they've done - it's very upsetting."

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The retail worker was formally dismissed on May 12 after managers concluded she had "put the business at risk".

Ms Fox insists the company's version of events differs significantly from what actually happened.

According to a dismissal letter seen by the BBC, One Stop alleged that she had "followed" the suspected shoplifter before "grabbed her and slammed her into a metal stand".

"I've never done anything like that before in work or in my private life," she said.

The former employee said she simply approached the woman after noticing her taking items from a shelf.

According to Ms Fox, the suspected thief lost her footing while turning away and accidentally bumped into the stand.

The woman is not believed to have suffered any injuries during the incident on April 27.

The 56-year-old said staff had been particularly on edge following a robbery at the store the previous week.

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She claimed a male shoplifter who had repeatedly targeted the shop had become increasingly aggressive and had gone behind the counter twice in a single day.

"Although I wasn't involved I was quite upset about it," she said.

Ms Fox acknowledged she had breached company policy by confronting the suspected shoplifter but believes dismissal was a disproportionate response.

She said the incident happened quickly and that she had simply "acted on instinct".

Her union representative suggested a final written warning as an alternative sanction, but management rejected the proposal.

The area manager's dismissal letter stated that she had not been provoked and expressed concern that her instincts could again override company procedures, potentially placing herself or others at risk.

Ms Fox is now considering legal action against her former employer.

A One Stop spokesman said: "We ask our colleagues never to risk their own safety, and we provide clear training to all colleagues on how best to respond to any incidents.

"This training is alongside continuous investment in extra security measures, as well as close collaboration with the police to do everything we can to prevent incidents taking place in our stores."

Ms Fox, who joined One Stop in September 2022, is currently unemployed.

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