Mark Jepp has joined the chorus of increasingly discordant voices expressing their anger at the failure of police forces to deal with criminal activities targeting Britain’s high street retailers. The industry veteran has described the response from the police as ‘woeful’ with engagement the worst he’s experienced in over three decades.
Game Nation CEO Mark Jepp has urged consumer-facing businesses in the gambling entertainment sector to make their voices heard in response to what he described as the ‘woeful’ response of the police to investigating crimes impacting high street businesses.
Identifying the Met, the territorial force responsible for law enforcement and crime prevention within Greater London, as providing the most egregious examples of sub-optimal policing he said: “I don’t believe that AGCs are any different from other high street retailers in terms of the level of crime that we all face. However, I do believe that we come bottom of the pile in terms of the police following-up when crimes are reported and bringing charges even in the face of CCTV evidence and in one case that defies belief, an admission of guilt.”
Referencing Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Machin who wrote to the home secretary Shabana Mahmood and London mayor Sadiq Khan demanding greater resources to enable the police to tackle crime effectively, Jepp noted: “M&S were correct in saying that retail crime is worse in London and that perpetrators feel emboldened by the lack of action because it seems there are no consequences for their actions.
“The largest portion of police funding comes from the tax payer via the Home Office and it’s transparently clear that we are not receiving value for money from the tax receipts the government receives.
“Whilst we are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for customers and colleagues, I honestly believe that the industry is being let down by a combination of resources and what can at best be described as an unconscious bias that marginalises the gambling sector.
“I have worked in the industry for over 30-years and the lack of engagement on the part of the police has plumbed new depths. In my opinion the relationship is in a worse state than ever before. As M&S demanded we need a stronger, faster and more consistent police response which acts on crime. Surely this isn’t too much to ask?”
According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics there were 519,381 shoplifting offences reported in the year to September 2025, up 5 percent from 492,660 the previous year.
Policing falling short
Mark Jepp said… “I don’t believe that AGCs are any different from other high street retailers in terms of the level of crime that we all face. However, I do believe that we come bottom of the pile in terms of the police following-up when crimes are reported and bringing charges even in the face of CCTV evidence and in one case that defies belief, an admission of guilt…
Originally published on Coinslot on April 13, 2026. Republished with permission.