Mutual reports half-year pre-tax profit of £58m despite soaring wage bill and rising cost of theft at retail stores

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The Co-operative Group has laid bare the impact of shoplifting as it said the cost of crime in its stores soared by nearly 20% to £40m in the first half of the year.

The member-owned mutual has spent £18m so far this year on measures to protect staff in its food business, including rolling out body-worn cameras and fortified kiosks.