Retailers have joined forces to create a national database that will blacklist staff for stealing, forgery and fraud.

HMV, Harrods, Littlewoods, Mothercare and Selfridges have signed up to the scheme, and Asda will take part if Sainsbury's agrees to do so, according to The Times.

“This isn't meant to target someone stealing £5 but those stealing thousands over a period of time,” Mike Schuck, chief executive of Action Against Business Crime, told the paper. “We are trying to police our own industry.”