Kelly Pinkney – Usdaw regional secretary says: “We welcome the significant advances Labour is making in Government to tackle retail crime. This includes the Crime and Policing Bill, which will deliver a specific offence of assaulting a shop worker and ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters and Criminal Behaviour Orders for offenders.
“Usdaw research still shows that far too many retail workers live in fear of being abused, threatened and assaulted at work and therefore significant levels of work still need to be done. That must include the important role of retail home delivery drivers. These workers ensure that people who cannot make it into a store are able to access the provisions they need, whilst also keeping our communities safe through enforcing age-restricted sales provisions.
“It is simply unacceptable that, despite this essential role, 13% of delivery drivers have been assaulted in the last 12 months and 26% have had to refuse a delivery due to concerns over their own personal safety. In addition to legislating to provide adequate legal provisions, it is essential that the Labour Government ensures that the police can enforce measures to protect all retail workers.”
Usdaw is asking conference to call on the Labour Government to:
- Introduce, as soon as possible, a specific offence of assaulting a retail home delivery driver
- Ensure that voices representing retail workers are included in discussions on police reform as part of the abolition of the Police and Crime Commissioner role
- Retain its resolute commitment to tackling retail crime.
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest with around 370,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also represents many workers in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion