Measures include strengthening neighbourhood policing, cracking down on antisocial behaviour with new ‘respect orders’ for persistent adult offenders, and introducing stronger measures against shoplifting.
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “Usdaw has for many years campaigned for a standalone offence to tackle increasing violence and threats against shop workers. The issue has become increasingly problematic for our members and the retail industry in the face of an alarming 37% hike in shoplifting. After years of opposition from the last Tory Government and their MPs, we are delighted that today the new Labour Government has moved to tackle the issue.
“The Tories’ dither and delay on retail crime left thousands of shop workers needlessly suffering physical and mental injury. We look forward to Labour delivering a much-needed protection of shop workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; and funding more uniformed officers patrolling shopping areas along with town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.
“Usdaw, along with Labour, won the campaign for legislation to protect retail staff in the Scottish Parliament and today we’ve seen a new Labour Government back our call in England and Wales. Our campaign continues; we are looking for Stormont to adopt their own legislation and we’ve already had a positive response from the Northern Ireland First Minister. It is our hope that these new measures will give shop workers the respect they deserve.”
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 trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
Usdaw’s ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against workers by engaging the public, shop workers and the Government.
www.usdaw.org.uk/Campaigns/Freedom-From-Fear
Usdaw annual ‘Freedom from Fear’ survey report: www.usdaw.org.uk/FFFReport2023
Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2021/6
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter/X @UsdawUnion