'Appalling' surge in crimes at pharmacies - with one owner having to chase offenders away

Around nine in 10 pharmacies experienced shoplifting and an increase in aggressive behaviour in the last year, a survey has found.

Of 476 pharmacies in England polled by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), 88% said they have experienced a rise in shoplifting incidents. About 87% reported a surge in aggressive or intimidating behaviour towards pharmacy staff, while 22% said there had been physical assaults on team members.

Almost three-quarters of those who reported these incidents to police felt the response was insufficient. Sanjeev Panesar, a pharmacy owner in Birmingham, said there has been a "noticeable rise" in shoplifting across his sites in the past 12 to 18 months, which includes some people filling up bags with stock before walking out.

Mr Panesar said his staff "can endure verbal abuse or physical intimidation". "Facing such hostility is not only disheartening but has a lasting effect on job satisfaction, morale, and feelings of safety at work," he said.

He previously brought in security guards and even chased offenders off himself several times. Read more from Sky News:Amber heat health alert for EnglandFull-time workers relying on food handouts 'We need to do more' The NPA, which represents more than 6,000 community pharmacies, said the findings of the survey were "unacceptable" and "appalling".

"Although pharmacies are taking their own steps to protect their staff and premises, the police should do much more to tackle crimes like shoplifting, which is becoming increasingly commonplace," NPA chief executive Henry Gregg said. Mr Gregg also warned that the theft of strong painkillers or benzodiazepinesi "could have serious consequences for someone's health".

Mr Gregg added: "We need to do more to tackle shoplifting as well as offering pharmacies similar support to other NHS colleagues in primary care to protect their staff and their premises.".