Britain’s high streets risk becoming ‘looting ground’ for thieves, says John Lewis boss

His warning comes after the cooperative revealed that it had they recruited undercover guards patrol supermarket aisles for shoplifters, following a 35 per cent rise in theft and anti-social behavior in the first half of this year alone.

A Royal Commission, an independently led public inquiry, would be best placed to examine the round’s high streets, the John Lewis boss said, adding: “High streets are more important to us than the sum of their parts; They help define our towns and cities and create civic pride.

“They are vital to us as a nation and so piecemeal decisions on individual problems will not work.”

Members of the royal commission are appointed by the King to gather evidence on the issue and prepare a report with recommendations.

The last time a Royal Commission was ordered into the health of cities was 180 years ago, during the reign of Queen Victoria.

It focused on public health concerns. The research led to the Public Health Act of 1848, which was instrumental in improving sanitary conditions in England and Wales.

It would be the first Royal Commission since 1999, when Tony Blair set up one on reform of the House of Lords.

The Conservative Party pledged to set up a Royal Commission into the criminal justice system at the 2019 election. However, work was delayed by the pandemic.

Dame Sharon’s warning is the latest in a series of calls to action from Britain’s top retail bosses.

Last month, a report by the Retail Sector Council, whose members include the chief executives of Sainsbury’s, Boots and Primark, warned that The decline of Oxford Street risks becoming the model for Britain’s high streets if ministers do not support regeneration efforts.

Richard Pennycook, former chief executive of the co-op and co-chairman of the council, said more towns and cities were threatening to become “wastelands” due to a lack of incentives for retailers to invest in stores.

Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer is embroiled in a dispute with Leveling Up Secretary Michael Gove over its Oxford Street store after he blocked its multi-million pound regeneration plans.