Iceland’s Richard Walker trades shoplifting related social media blows with former Sun Editor Kelvin MacKenzie

Iceland boss, Richard Walker, has called for laws to allow his company’s stores to share images of violent shoplifters on local WhatsApp groups.

He has slammed 'stupid' data protection laws that mean shops cannot share images of individuals shoplifting, taken by their CCTV cameras.

“We are fighting with one hand tied behind our backs,” Walker told former MP Gloria de Piero on her Lessons In Leadership podcast.

'It's actually illegal for us to share images of known offenders on local high street WhatsApp groups because of data protection laws. I'd like that to change.”

“When these images are on your CCTV, it's absolutely proven. You watch someone pick something up, put them under their coat or whatever they do, and walk out or become aggressive to those store staff if they're stopped.”

“I’ve told my colleagues to do it anyway, and I take the rap if there's a problem,” he added.

Enter Kelvin MacKenzie, an English media executive and former Editor of The Sun newspaper, who posted the following on X: “Correctly Richard Walker, the boss of the supermarket chain Iceland, points out in The Times that due to “stupid”  data privacy laws, CCTV images of shoplifters caught in the act at his store can’t be circulated among staff on WhatsApp.”

“Mr Walker doesn’t need the photos as he may well know many of the  thieves personally, since they will be all be Labour voters , the party he adopted when the Tories wouldn’t have him as a candidate. As a two-faced s++t Walker should put both of his images out on WhatsApp.”

Walker, a former Conservative Party donor who earlier this year switched his support to Labour, shot back: “Whoever Kelvin is, I think he needs a big hug.”

Now that’s how you deal with right wing loudmouths. Bravo, Richard!

2024 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Physical stores are a key focus area for the sixth edition of the RTIH Innovation Awards, which is now open for entries.

The awards, sponsored by CADS, 3D Cloud, Retail Technology Show 2025, and Business France, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

It’s free to enter and you can do so across multiple categories.

Key 2024 dates

Friday, 25th October: Award entry deadline 

Tuesday, 29th October: 2024 shortlist revealed

30th October-6th November: Judging days

Thursday, 21st November: Winners announced at the 2024 RTIH Innovation Awards ceremony, to be held at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London.