Usdaw welcomes support from MPs for action to tackle an epidemic of retail crime and attacks on retail staff

In her opening remarks, Paulette Hamilton said: “I want to pay tribute to retail workers, like the heroes of Usdaw’s ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign, who’ve fought abuse for twenty years. These workers, often women, often young, should not have to endure threats just for doing their job. With the right resources, we can protect them.”

As part of the response to the debate, Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson MP - Policing Minister said: “Too many neighbourhoods have over recent years been plagued by anti-social behaviour and crime, with shoplifting and street theft in particular surging. We all know the reality that neighbourhood policing was eroded under the previous Government. The impact of that is very well documented. Anti-social behaviour and shop theft was treated as low level and if you call the police, nobody came. That is totally unacceptable and needs to be fixed. 

“That’s why this Government has made rebuilding neighbourhood policing a focus of our safer streets mission, which is central to the Prime Minister’s plan for change. In the Crime and Policing Bill, we have brought forward a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect those hard-working and dedicated staff that work in stores, after years of campaigning by Usdaw and the Co-op amongst others.”

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “We thank Paulette Hamilton for raising this important issue, along with all the MPs who contributed to the debate by referring to our longstanding ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign and the experiences of our members on the frontline of retail. We welcome the Minister’s response confirming that the Government is acting to tackle this growing problem by rebuilding a police presence in our communities and on our high streets.

“Usdaw has long campaigned for legislative measures to combat the growing problem of retail crime, theft from shops and the abuse of retail staff. Retail workers are responsible for enforcing various laws around age-restricted sales and it is only right that they have additional protection in law, so we very much welcome the Crime and Policing Bill that delivers on Labour’s manifesto promises.

“We now look forward to a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; and funding for more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas, along with Criminal Behaviour Orders. All crucial measures aimed at stemming rising theft from shops, with official figures showing that shoplifting has more than doubled since the pandemic and rose by 20% last year.

“Usdaw continues to engage with Government on the Bill to ensure it offers the best possible protections for retail workers. We are calling for home delivery drivers to be included in the new standalone offence of assaulting retail workers, having submitted evidence to the Home Office. The Bill has been timetabled for report stage on 17 and 18 June, where it will be debated and voted on by all MPs.”