Usdaw says no jail plan for shoplifters will anger retail workers

Retail union Usdaw says shopworkers are angry over a proposal that some shoplifters will not be jailed, as stealing from stores is regularly a flashpoint for violent assaults.

Usdaw members report that violent shoplifters are responsible for many of the 20,000 physical assaults on shopworkers every year and a proposal by the Sentencing Advisory Panel that some shoplifters won't be jailed is misguided.

"These proposals do acknowledge that violent offenders should continue to be jailed but a no jail option for shoplifting sends out the wrong signal to offenders," says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. "Our members already feel threatened by persistent shoplifters and who can tell when one of them will become violent and assault staff.

"Shoplifting is a serious offence where persistent offenders with serious drug or drink problems regularly verbally abuse staff in their own workplaces, so the assumption that only violent offenders should face a possible jail sentence is flawed and doesn't protect Britain's 2.7 million shop staff.

"Shoplifting isn't a victimless crime as verbal abuse in our stores shot up 35% last year and physical assaults by 14% and many of those incidents are triggered by shoplifters being challenged by staff.

"Retailers are right to point to the £588 million stolen by shoplifters every year and those costs are passed on to the consumer and could make the difference between some companies surviving or going under, and if they do it's our members who lose their jobs.

"Usdaw believes that this proposal would send out the wrong signal to offenders who might believe they would be able to act above the law, and does nothing to protect vulnerable shop staff that have to bear the brunt of the abuse dished out indiscriminately by shoplifters caught in the act."

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw's Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail paul.clarke@usdaw.org.uk.
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union, with over 340,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Journalists can subscribe to receive Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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