Speaking in Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour MP for Bangor Aberconwy Claire Hughes said: “Businesses are struggling with the rise in shoplifting. In many cases, thieves are stealing in full view of staff because they just don’t fear the consequences. The recent funding boost for neighbourhood policing is very welcome. What more is Government doing to tackle retail crime and deter repeat offenders?”
Responding, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “For far too long, crimes like shoplifting have been written off as low level. That’s wrong, it’s devastating and the <Conservatives> left us with rising crime. They effectively told police to ignore shoplifting under £200 worth of goods. We’ve got rid of that shoplifters’ charter and we’re working hard to make sure we get a grip where they lost control.”
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary says: “Retail crime, theft from shops and abuse of staff are very real concerns for our members, and we welcome that they have been highlighted at the highest level with the Prime Minister. Keir Starmer’s response shows that Labour are serious in seeking to tackle a significant increase in theft from shops, which has almost doubled since the pandemic and rose by 23% last year. This contrasts with 14 years of the Conservatives refusing to support the calls from Usdaw and many major retailers for significant action.
“We are pleased that the new Labour Government will soon introduce a Crime and Policing Bill. This new legislation will deliver a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law and introduce Respect Orders for repeat offenders. Last week, the Home Secretary announced a doubling of funding to police forces to help them recruit 13,000 more uniformed police officers, patrolling our communities and high streets. It is our hope that these new measures together will help give retail 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
Crime in England and Wales: Police Force Area data tables:
Interim results of the Usdaw’s 2024 survey, based on 4,073 responses, show that: 69% were verbally abused, 45% were threatened. 17% of retail workers had been assaulted. Of those who were abused, threatened or assaulted, 70% said that theft was the trigger, and their assessment of the underlying issues was 64% related to a drug and/or alcohol addiction. The final results of the survey will be published in March 2025.
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
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion