Tesco has defended its decision to refuse to deliver groceries to a crime hit estate, after what it claimed had been a wave of attacks and thefts against drivers.
The retailer said it stood by a decision to block deliveries ordered by management at one of its stores in Sheffield, who decided the city’s Gleadless Valley estate was effectively a no go zone.
“Our drivers’ safety is our primary concern and in the past they have experienced threatening behaviour while delivering to this area,” a spokeswoman for Tesco said today, after residents on the estate complained that they had been refused deliveries for Christmas orders.
The decision has also been attacked by South Yorkshire Police, which said it was unfair on residents.
Tesco today denied the move had set a precedent and said it had arranged for food to be delivered by taxis to a customer in the area following the complaint.
“We have made alternative arrangements to deliver to this customer and she has now received her shopping. We will keep our decision not to deliver to this area under review.”
The controversy is South Yorkshire comes days after police in the area claimed people were turning to crime against retailers because of poverty.
In nearby Rotherham police said a surge in theft had been caused by high retail prices.
The Grocer reported earlier this week that a study by the Centre for Retail Research estimates losses from crime in the UK in the six weeks from mid-November to the end of December will be as high as £999.7 million, up 3.4% compared to 2011, or a cost per household of £38.09.
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