Take Back Power activists storm supermarket aisles and seize food from Tesco Sainsbury’s and Morrisons stores in London Manchester Exeter and Truro

A group of anti-capitalist campaigners has stirred major controversy across the United Kingdom after carrying out coordinated supermarket raids that they claim were meant to help people struggling with food insecurity.

The organisation, Take Back Power, said activists entered multiple supermarkets early Saturday morning and removed food items, later claiming the goods were redistributed to food banks.

The group shared footage online showing people taking products from stores, describing the act as “liberating” food rather than stealing it.

Major supermarket chains including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons were among those targeted in the coordinated action.

Early Morning Operation Targets Multiple Cities

According to the campaign group, the actions began around 8:30 a.m. and took place simultaneously in several cities including Manchester, London, Exeter, and Truro.

One of the most widely circulated videos showed activists entering a Morrisons store in Exeter and leaving with food items.

The group said the goods were then delivered to food bank donation points for people facing financial hardship.

On social media, the activists argued that large corporations accumulate enormous profits while ordinary workers struggle with rising living costs.

In one post, they claimed supermarket executives earn hundreds of times more than their average employees, which they described as a form of economic injustice.

Police Response and Conflicting Accounts

Authorities provided a different perspective on what happened during some of the incidents.

Police officers in London told reporters that when they arrived at one supermarket, the activists had actually paid for the food they removed, meaning no crime had been committed.

However, the activist group disputed that version of events and insisted their actions were part of a deliberate protest.

Members of the group said security staff confronted activists in Exeter and London, but they maintained that no arrests had been made at the time of the demonstrations.

Online Reaction Divided

Footage from the raids quickly spread across social media platforms, triggering a heated debate among viewers.

Critics argued the actions amounted to straightforward theft, regardless of the stated intention to donate the goods.

Some commenters said the protest undermined its own message by putting store workers in an uncomfortable position.

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Others were more sympathetic to the activists’ cause, agreeing that food should be more accessible to people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

Still, several observers warned that confronting frontline employees could risk their jobs, noting that shop workers are not responsible for corporate decisions.

Activists Say More Disruption Is Planned

The supermarket raids were not a spontaneous action but part of a broader campaign planned months in advance.

Earlier this year, Arthur Clifton, a co-founder of Take Back Power, spoke at a launch event attended by more than 140 supporters about the group’s long-term strategy.

Clifton said the organisation hopes to mobilise up to 10,000 activists to take part in acts of civil disobedience ahead of the 2029 United Kingdom general election.

Clifton, who previously attended Latymer Upper School, also confirmed that activists intend to stage more demonstrations targeting high-end retailers and supermarkets.

The group has already attracted headlines in the past with provocative stunts, including dumping manure inside The Ritz London and smearing custard on a display case housing the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

Clifton himself has previously been convicted over protest actions connected to Just Stop Oil, another activist movement known for disruptive demonstrations.

Britain Facing Rising Shoplifting Rates

The protests come at a time when shoplifting is already a growing problem across the country.

Official figures show police recorded more than 530,000 shoplifting offences between April 2024 and March 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics.

That works out to roughly one incident every minute.

Data produced for the Liberal Democrats also revealed that many cases never lead to arrests.

Police closed nearly 295,589 shoplifting investigations in 2024–25 without identifying a suspect, equivalent to about 34 unresolved cases every hour.

Overall, shoplifting has surged dramatically in recent years, doubling since the COVID-19 pandemic and rising by about 20 percent since the Labour Party came to power.

Impact and Consequences

The mass shoplifting protest has intensified debate around activism, poverty, and corporate profits in Britain.

Retailers are likely to face additional pressure to tighten security as public demonstrations blur the line between political protest and criminal activity.

Store employees may also find themselves caught in the middle of these disputes, facing confrontations from activists while still trying to enforce company rules.

At the same time, the campaign has drawn attention to the growing demand for food banks and the financial strain many households face amid rising living costs.

What’s Next?

Organisers from Take Back Power say the supermarket raids are only the beginning of a broader campaign aimed at disrupting major corporations and drawing attention to economic inequality.

More demonstrations and direct actions could follow in the coming months, particularly in London, where the group has previously pledged to “paralyse” parts of the capital through large-scale protests.

Authorities and retailers are now likely to monitor upcoming demonstrations closely, especially given the already rising level of shoplifting across the country.

Summary

A coordinated protest by anti-capitalist activists targeting major UK supermarkets has sparked national debate about protest tactics, corporate wealth, and the cost-of-living crisis.

While organisers insist the food taken was redistributed to people in need, critics argue the actions amount to theft and place retail workers in a difficult position.

With shoplifting already at record levels, the demonstrations have added another layer of tension between activists, businesses, and law enforcement.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Take Back Power activists carried out coordinated supermarket raids across several UK cities.
• Stores owned by Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons were among the targets.
• Activists claim the food taken from shops was donated to food banks for people in need.
• Police said some protesters had actually paid for goods during one incident, meaning no offence occurred.
• The demonstrations come as shoplifting offences in Britain exceed 530,000 annually.
• Organisers say the raids are part of a larger campaign aimed at mobilising thousands of activists before the 2029 United Kingdom general election.