Police are investigating a complaint of shoplifting at an Auckland supermarket made against a former MP.

The incident is alleged to have occurred in late 2024 at a Pak’nSave supermarket in the Auckland suburb of Royal Oak.

When presented with the allegations against a former MP, a police spokesperson said: “Police can advise a shoplifting complaint is under investigation from late 2024.”

Police would not comment any further on privacy grounds.

No charges have been laid.

The lawyer for the former MP, who the Herald understands to be the subject of the police investigation into the shoplifting complaint, did not deny the allegations.

The lawyer warned against the reporting of the incident or the former MP’s name in order to “protect [the individual’s] trial rights and remedies if any charge was to be presented”.

Pak’nSave would not confirm details of the shoplifting complaint when questioned.

“Each quarter, Foodstuffs North Island stores report 4500 to 5000 incidents of retail crime,” a Pak’nSave spokesperson said in response to the Herald’s questions.

“We have responsibilities around respecting people’s privacy, so providing information on whether an individual is known or not known to our retail crime teams is not something we can help you with I’m afraid.”