Usdaw welcomes a surge in neighbourhood police to protect communities and tackle retail crime

Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “Neighbourhood policing has been devastated after a decade of austerity under the previous government. To make matters worse, too many forces ended up with officers behind desks doing HR and admin. I am putting police back where they belong – on the beat, fighting crime and catching criminals in our communities.”

Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “We very much welcome this further investment from Labour into neighbourhood policing, to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in communities and town centres. Usdaw’s latest interim survey results show the level of attacks on retail workers remains high. It is shocking that nearly three-quarters of those working in retail are regularly facing abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. This is a hugely important issue for our members, and they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough.

“This investment in more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas and neighbourhoods adds to Labour’s extensive action to tackle retail crime. The Crime and Policing Bill will deliver a much-needed protection of shop workers’ law; end the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; along with Criminal Behaviour Orders. There is also new funding to tackle the organised criminals responsible for the increase in shoplifting. It is our hope that these new measures will help provide the respect retail workers deserve.”