The Leeds Co-operative has been doing its bit to serve the community and crack down on store crime by highlighting the consequences of shoplifting to more than 1,000 school children in the Selby district.

The society joined forces with North Yorkshire Police to stage 80 shoplifting scenarios as part of a two-hour course at Drax Power Station Conference Centre.

A mini grocery store and checkout were set up and manned by real Leeds Co-operative store staff, who acted out the offence, prosecution, court appearance, and subsequent consequences of shoplifting.

Neil Honeywood, security manager of Leeds Co-operative, said: "As the major neighbourhood retailer in the area, we believe in investing in the communities we serve. This is an ideal opportunity to build closer relationships with local police in a community project benefiting us all.

"This project is crime prevention in its truest sense. If it can help to stop crime in the first place, then the whole community will be better off."?

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