Anger with government over protection for shop workers

Various organisations from the retail sector have united to condemn the UK government for showing continued unwillingness to introduce specific legal protection for shop workers who are assaulted.

Although some peers in the House of Lords yesterday spoke in favour of the measures, two proposed amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill were withdrawn. The amendments would have made attacking someone working in retail a more serious offence.

The retail sector has been calling on the government to follow Scotland’s example in introducing harsher sentences for crime against shop workers to tackle the growing problem of violence against shop workers.

Speaking during the debate, Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford said: “Obviously, a wide range of offences already exist covering assaults on any worker, including retail workers, and they include offences such as common assaults.”

Reacting to the comment, ACS chief executive James Lowman said, “We are extremely disappointed that the Government has once again failed to take urgent action to protect colleagues working in our sector. These amendments would’ve introduced a new specific offence for attacks on shopworkers in line with recently passed legislation in Scotland and provided our colleagues with the additional protection that they so desperately need.

“Violent and abusive incidents can be traumatic for the individuals, often with significant emotional and physical implications and shopworkers should be provided with the same level of protection across the UK.

“Violence and abuse towards staff is a top concern for retailers and we will continue to call for the Government to introduce tougher penalties for attacks on shopworkers to send the clear message that these incident are unacceptable and should not be tolerated.”

Shopworkers union Usdaw also pledged to continue pressing for legislative change.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said, “While we are still disappointed that the government has not committed to a simple standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker, we remain hopeful that their ‘active consideration’ will eventually lead to the right result for our members.

“We need a new offence to encourage prosecutions and provide the deterrent effect that retail staff are desperately looking for.”