Waitrose offers free coffees for police officers amid shoplifting rise

Initiative aims to increase police presence as retailer sees rise in theft and aggression

Waitrose and John Lewis are offering free coffees and other hot drinks to on-duty police officers amid a rise in shoplifting.

The drinks are aimed at encouraging a police presence in order to make thieves think twice" about stealing goods, said the head of security at the John Lewis Partnership, which owns the John Lewis and Waitrose brands.