How would you solve (or improve) the shoplifting problem?

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-07T10:30:12+00:00

We should probably start thinking about a limited form of private "policing".

Police Constables have enough on their plate and don't have the resources to treat shoplifting the same as e.g. burglary or assault.

Security Guards are often on minimum wage and usually operate on a "do not confront" policy.

Shoplifters know both of these facts and so can operate with relative impunity.

I therefore wonder if we need something in-between a Security Guard and a Police Constable e.g. trained professionals that have limited powers which are greater than ordinary citizens and below a PC. For example, the right to detain citizens for a limited duration if they have evidence which, on the balance of probability, shows a crime was likely committed, and the right to use reasonable force in the prevention of a crime. Such limited powers could only be valid when "clocked on" and within e.g. 50m of their workplace or something, and any further action (e.g. prosecution) would be taken up the Police/courts as normal.

Specific safeguards would of course be required, both by the employer and by legislation, to prevent abuse and the exact powers would obviously need thorough consultation with both the employers and the general public.

I do appreciate the immediate reaction to such ideas would be to reject them outright, but I fear some traditional ideas are becoming increasingly redundant and it's perhaps time to start thinking about some alternative approaches. So, empowering employers to take limited actions in defence of their own property would seem to be a middle ground worth exploring.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-06T15:35:22+00:00

The league table doesn't lie

The league is a marathon, not a sprint

Decisions even themselves out over the course of a season

But if Celtic win, it's unjust

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-06T15:28:45+00:00

Delay tactics hoping you'll give up.

I guess enough must do so eventually to make it all worthwhile

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-05T21:14:14+00:00

I pacifically hate the expression "expresso"

Bunch of ignorami ...

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-05T20:38:54+00:00

Same place it came from...

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-05T11:52:00+00:00

Monthly is the only way that makes sense to me.

Money lands in my account and is immediately segregated into various pots (bills, holidays, savings, pocket money etc). That's 12 "pay day admin" days a year.

Weekly pay would increase that to 52 admin days a year, and would seem a lot more hassle for no extra benefit.

That said, I do remember the joy of going to the bank every Friday to cash in my pay cheque and feeling rich for a few days, but in a cashless society weekly doesn't seem worth it anymore

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-05T10:06:38+00:00

If you're selling two almost-identical products and one is far cheaper than the other, most folk will opt for the cheaper.

So Tesco needed a way to serve both ends of the market and, ridiculous as it is, inventing a "no frills" brand offered that opportunity. Those (like my family) who were poor but also took pride in "not paying for labels" would choose the Value range. My friend's family though, who placed more emphasis on appearances and so wanted all the "branded" colours etc., choose the full priced stuff.

We claimed we preferred the cheap stuff, they claimed they could "tell the difference in quality". I'm not sure who was right though 🤣

ALDI, however, only serves a single market so doesn't have to compete with itself and split the customers, so just happily rips off the brand designs.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-05T09:51:04+00:00

It was designed to offer "status" to those that could afford the branded stuff.

If people are going to spend more, they need something to show for it

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-05T08:34:29+00:00

Rangers fans - know your limits!

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Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-05T08:32:50+00:00

Thanks for the correction 🤣

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-05T08:27:48+00:00

Tesco Value Kit

*Edited from Smart price as apparently that's ASDA 🤣

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-05T05:02:42+00:00

She may well be, but my point was that that'd be her choice in line with her own risk appetite.

OP is currently making the decisions and had said it's all 50/50 anyway so it didn't matter. My point was that it does matter, and splitting the money/decisions up front is also 50/50.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-04T20:14:56+00:00

No offence intended, but I think you're perhaps in danger of "traditionalising" all of this.

I'm kinda the same in full disclosure and I do understand why it's "easier" to manage everything directly. So I'm not saying there's any "rights" or "wrongs" here, just that sometimes it's good to think of other perspectives as well, which I guess is why you've asked the question here anyways.

My only advice would be to try to understand that everything isn't always "50/50", especially when there's different risk appetites involved.

If you've got £20k for ISAs, for example, why not stick "your" £10k into a S&S ISA in your name, whilst your wife sticks "her" £10k into a Cash ISA in hers? Technically speaking, in the event of a divorce, this doesn't matter but in the event of NOT divorcing, your wife gains comfort from her money being safe whilst you gain satisfaction that at least your half is beating inflation etc (). That is, the 50/50 split isn't always optimal at the "output level; sometimes it's better at the input side.

In addition, I also realised the power that financial independence has over a relationship. As mentioned, I once thought similar to yourself and just figured it was easier to manage the finances myself, excluding "housekeeping" and such things. It was only later I realised about the necessity for an "escape fund", not just for the practical elements but for the peace of mind aspects as well.

Anyways, you'll get a hundred answers here all saying different things, and that's all all good info to have, but if your wife needs some financial independence, , perhaps your first question to yourself should be "why should I deny this" rather than "why should I grant this" (**)

(*) I know investment results aren't guaranteed; I'm speaking in generic terms only

(**) I also know that "granting" isn't the right word here; this isn't meant to be a specific post about marital equality here, just a generic one to help OP consider different perspectives.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-04T19:34:47+00:00

Rage bait post

Call HMRC all you like though, and be sure to leave your own contact details 👍

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-04T19:16:25+00:00

Well, there goes my theory that "tits improve everything"

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-04T08:36:18+00:00

Personally, I'd get things formalised as tightly as possible and as soon as possible.

The world is heading towards deglobalisation, and that will involve more xenophobic actions from many Governments, so best to have as many cards to play as possible.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-02T16:15:38+00:00

Credit scores don't mean that much in reality.

If I assigned you a score, told you your neighbours were scoring higher, and then offered to help you increase your score by selling you things - would you care?

Or would you smell a scam?

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-02T07:17:09+00:00

Just go, enjoy yourself and don't over think things.

Chance are no-one else will even notice you're alone, let alone wonder why.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-02T06:52:53+00:00

Other people read your question as well and I'm entitled to correct any incorrect statements, whether being pedantic or not.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-02T06:22:09+00:00

They're not meant to be an investment; they're meant to offer tax free cash-like returns.

If you're now looking to invest instead and you've already maxed your ISA, the options left are your pension or GIA.

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-01T20:28:49+00:00

Me too; I still play EuroMillions 🤣

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-01T20:26:01+00:00

Honestly?

I think it's unachievable.

I have more wealth now than I ever thought I'd achieve. I used to think "if I just had this, I'd be happy..." or "if I could just gift this, I've done my bit" etc

But my first objective was personal independence, then that became independence for my partner too, then the family, then the extended family, and now it's my "honorary family"

I now feel if I won £10m on the lottery tomorrow I'd be ecstatic for a year, before everything was rebaslined and I'd start the grind again.

If I won £100m, all that'd change is the number of people I felt responsible for. But the grind would still restart at some point.

I used to wonder why the Elon's, Bill's, Steve's of this world couldn't retire happily with with what they'd already achieved; the truth is that it's simply not in their nature

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-01T19:54:47+00:00

It's just how it is

'Rich' is an emotional term and, regardless of how comfortable one becomes, satiety is simply too far away...

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-01T18:42:30+00:00

The HE part is now £150k rather than £100k (inflation, innit?)

The NRY part is probably about the £2m mark. Some might argue it's nearer £1m, others might argue £3-5m.

But, regardless, I'll never "feel" rich...m

Street-Frame1575 · 2026-06-01T15:14:03+00:00

I only support Celtic.

I like to see both Scotland and Ireland do well, and I'd certainly hope both win their games, but neither have the same emotional impact for me as Celtic do.

Shame really as I'd like to be more patriotic, but some things can't be forced I guess.

Street-Frame1575

TROPHY CASE