The head of the Metropolitan Police has said he is "bewildered" by the sacking of a Morrisons store manager who lost his job after confronting a shoplifter.
Saying he would always encourage the public to help in the “fight against crime”, Sir Mark Rowley, the UK's most senior police officer, spoke of his surprise that the retailer hadn't supported 46-year-old Sean Egan, who instead was fired from the only job he has ever had.
Mr Egan was dismissed after tackling a thief at the supermarket’s Aldridge branch in the West Midlands in a case that has sparked national debate over how retailers handle shoplifting.
The store manager had worked at Morrisons for 29 years and was escorting a suspected shoplifter out of the building when the man became aggressive and spat at him repeatedly. Mr Egan then forced the thief out, but was later dismissed at a disciplinary hearing for breaching Morrisons’ “deter‑not‑detain” policy.
The decision has prompted considerable backlash, with calls for him to be reinstated and questions raised about whether strict corporate rules discourage staff from intervening in crime, even in situations where a citizens’ arrest might be lawful.
Sir Mark said he “completely” sympathised with Mr Egan and was “bewildered” by the case.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: “Maybe there’s something sensitive behind it that none of us know, I don’t know. But on the surface, if a store manager feels able to intervene and can do that safely, we always want people to do that. We want the public to be part of the fight against crime."
He added: "The act of a citizen is important. Policing isn’t just about policing. Keeping communities safe is about all of our responsibilities.”
Mr Egan has said the incident has not only left him jobless, but also struggling with anxiety. Describing the incident which led to his dismissal, Egan said: “Like many stores, we were dealing with frequent shoplifting, especially during peak Christmas period.
“On this occasion, the individual was a well known, prolific offender in the area. I followed company policy, approached calmly, offered help, and then escorted him from the store when needed.
“But as we neared the exit, I was spat at. In that moment, I reacted. Not as a manager. As a human being. That split second changed everything.”
At his disciplinary hearing, Mr Egan was told he would be dismissed on the grounds of not following the company’s deter-and-not-detain policy.
Mr Egan wrote: “Despite nearly three decades of loyalty, performance, and commitment, including turning numerous underperforming stores into some of the most profitable in the West Midlands, I lost my job.”
Sir Mark's intervention adds further pressure onto Morrisons as criticism mounts over the treatment of Mr Egan.
Earlier this week, shadow home secretary Chris Philp MP expressed his support for the former store manager. In a post on X, he said: “Morrisons must immediately reinstate Sean Egan. He rightly and bravely confronted an aggressive shoplifter. Morrisons shamefully fired him - after 29 years service.
“Retailers must support their staff who stand up against criminals. I’m sick of criminals being allowed to do what they like and decent people like Sean getting penalised.”
A spokesperson for Morrisons told The Independent it stands by the decision, and claimed media reports had not reflected “the full facts of the situation”.
They said: “While we cannot comment on individual cases, we are confident that this matter was investigated thoroughly and that the correct process was followed. The subsequent reporting does not reflect the full facts of the situation.
“We are continuing to take wide ranging action to address the threat of shoplifting or violence in our stores.“The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance to Morrisons. We have very clear guidance, procedures and controls in place to protect our colleagues and customers from the risk of harm, which must be strictly followed.
“These include detailed procedures for handling shoplifting incidents, which are in place to protect both the colleague involved and surrounding colleagues and customers and which seek to de-escalate and calmly control the situation. We will not ask colleagues to put themselves at risk, where they could suffer unintended consequences.“As a responsible employer, our focus is entirely on taking the correct action to ensure health and safety is maintained at all times.”
The case comes amid renewed attention on shoplifting across the UK – which has hit an eight-year high – and how shops handle criminals targeting them.
News of Mr Egan's sacking over the incident came just two weeks after a similar case made headlines after a 54-year-old man was given the sack by Waitrose after also confronting a shoplifter at a shop in south London.
Read MoreTwo more arrests made in terror investigation over planned arson on Jewish site
Morrisons store manager says he was sacked for tackling shoplifter
PM pledges unrelenting fight against antisemitism as seven more arrested
UK-France deal will push more migrants to make dangerous crossings, charities warn
Starmer says opponents making ‘any allegation they can’ over Mandelson vetting
Partner of Earl Spencer settles High Court claim against his ex-wife