West Mercia special constable is sacked TWICE for stealing three 40p Sainsbury's bags

Luke Hodgson, a volunteer special constable with West Mercia Police, lost both his Sainsbury's job and his police role after he deliberately avoided paying for three carrier bags — totalling £1.20 — across three separate transactions in December 2025. Chief Constable Richard Cooper dismissed his claim that the thefts were accidental, noting that Hodgson had undergone training on self-service tills and had previously paid for bags without difficulty. At each checkout, users were prompted to confirm whether they had taken a bag, meaning every unpaid instance represented a conscious decision.

Richard Cooper ruled that 'deliberate dishonesty is not compatible with the high standards of integrity required of the service.'

Hodgson repaid the £1.20 and co-operated fully, but Cooper said public confidence could not survive a constable who had committed theft.

Hodgson is now barred from working in law enforcement in England and Wales for life, placed on the College of Policing's barred list.