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Shock at rise in retail violence
15 October 2007
Police forces should give retail crime higher priority says Usdaw after new figures showed a fifty per cent increase in violence against staff.
The survey by employers group the British Retail Consortium (BRC) also revealed threats of violence have doubled in the last year.
"The BRC's annual crime survey is the most authoritative measure of retail crime," said general secretary John Hannett. "So I am very concerned at the reported rise particularly in violent incidents and threats of violence.
"Thankfully the number of incidents remains much lower than the 2003 peak. We launched our Freedom From Fear campaign in that year and thanks to the hard work and co-operation between Usdaw and retail companies the problem is being addressed. However, there were still 500,000 incidents of violence or abuse against shopworkers last year.
"We want to see more Crime and Disorder Reduction partnerships which brings together the police, local authorities, employers and unions to give retail crime the priority it deserves.
"I was delighted home secretary Jacqui Smith MP gave us her support, along with the Co-op and BRC, at our fringe meeting at the Labour Party conference."
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