An officer claims he was fired "for doing his job" after tackling a drunk shoplifter outside a Tesco store.
Wayne Price worked as a Safer Streets Officer for Worcester Business Improvement District (BID) until his dismissal following an incident at the Tesco Express on Foregate Street.
The confrontation resulted in a man being injured during the fracas.
Price insists he only did what he was trained to do during the incident.
Wayne Price (right) worked as a Safer Streets Officer for Worcester BID until his dismissal following the incident
Worcester BID
However, he claims Worcester BID told him the incident "potentially ruined the organisation's reputation".
"I was fired for doing what I thought was right," said Price, who worked for the organisation from June 2023 until October 2024.
He explained: "Apparently there was a complaint from a member of the public but BID says the incident potentially ruined their reputation but if you ask me they have ruined their own reputation."
Price described how the confrontation unfolded outside the supermarket.
He added: "He was a regular shoplifter who was often drunk around town and was regularly abusive.
"When I got there he was not in the store so I stood in the doorway to stop him gaining entry. He kept coming up to my face and was being abusive.
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Price (second right) claims Worcester BID told him the incident "potentially ruined the organisation's reputation"
Worcester BID
"After multiple warnings, I struck him in the chest and he fell back and hit his head and I lost my job for it."
Price maintains he acted appropriately in the situation and said: "He wasn't bleeding and I was doing what I thought was right and what I was trained to do by not allowing him entry."
The officer's role involved tackling shoplifting, returning stock, and responding to incidents.
The incident occurred on October 1 last year and Price was dismissed on October 25.
He did appeal his dismissal but was unsuccessful.
The security guard defended his actions by referring to previous incidents in his role.
"I've had incidents where I've had to use self-defence before and I've used reasonable force and not been suspended," he said.
A Worcester BID spokesperson said: "Whilst we are unable to comment on the specific incident in this report due to the sensitivity of this matter, we remain committed to supporting the businesses within the city.
"Worcester BID works closely with shops, the night-time economy and West Mercia Police in the city to understand any problem areas that may need our additional support.
"The Safe Space initiative was launched in December 2023 to help businesses and the public by offering operational support, welfare and medical assistance in the night-time economy.
"The success of Safe Space has led us to extend and develop the offering during the daytime economy to support the City Centre Businesses."
