The retailer’s boss, Richard Walker, said any shoppers who point out offenders to members of staff will receive a payment to their membership card.
But some shoppers have criticised the move. On social media platform X, formerly Twitter, one said: “This is an appalling idea. Neither staff nor customers should take this risk.
“These companies have more than enough profit to absorb the cost of security and lost revenue.”
waiting to do my weekly shop outside Iceland, just need to catch a shoplifter in action so I can get a pound for the trolley
— BRYN_BORANGA (@BRYN_BORANGA) August 15, 2025
Another poster agreed: “There’s something particularly unedifying about turning grass for such a paltry amount isn’t there?”
“Which is the bigger recession indicator, the snitch bounty or how pathetically low it is?,” added another.
Others also questioned the reward itself: “It’s not even a real pound, it’s £1 on a loyalty card.”
Many saw the funny side: “Surely Poundland should offer a pound, Iceland is a bit more classy isn’t it, at least £2 and an ice pop for each shoplifter.”
Iceland said the business faces a roughly £20 million hit from the cost of shoplifting each year.
Mr Walker, executive chairman of Iceland, told Channel Five news: “I’d like to announce that we will give £1 to any customer who points out a shoplifter.
“We’ll put it on their bonus card, if they see any customers in our stores who is undertaking that offence.
“Some people see this as a victimless crime; it is not.
“It also keeps prices from being lowered because it is a cost to the business.
“It’s a cost to the hours we pay our colleagues, as well as it being about intimidation and violence.”
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He said the £20 million cost of theft limits the amount that the company can pay back out to its colleague and restrains its ability to lower prices.
“We’d like customers to help us lower our prices even more by pointing out shoplifters,” Mr Walker added.
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said the recorded figures show more crimes are being reported, but this is still “far too low”, with many retailers having “no faith” in incidents being investigated.
Ryanair considers increasing staff bonus to tackle excess baggage
Ryanair is considering increasing a bonus paid to staff for identifying passengers’ oversized luggage, its chief executive said.
The airline currently pays staff around 1.50 euros (£1.30) for intercepting customers who are bringing bags on to the aircraft.
It is reported that the bonus is capped at about 80 euros (£70) for each staff member per month.
Passengers are charged a fee of up to 75 euros (£65) for bringing luggage that is larger than they paid for while booking their journey.
