Retail trade union Usdaw has condemned the Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, for her recent comments where she suggested that staff and customers should confront a shoplifter if they were “not too big”.
Speaking to Times Radio, Badenoch criticised members of the public who failed to intervene, letting criminals "think they can get away with it".
She said her instinct would be to confront a thief if she thought there was no personal risk to her, adding that others should not 'look away'.
"I think it depends on how big they are,' she told Times Radio.
"But yes, broadly, it would be my instinct. I think people should look after their personal safety. I think those people who are stronger should do more."
Badenoch highlighted the problem during a speech launching the Conservative Party's local election campaign on Thursday.
"I know that there is now a tendency for people not to put themselves in harm's way," she added. "But I also think that sometimes we need to send a message that this is not acceptable. People will do things if they think that they can get away with it."
Reacting to Badenoch's comments, Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary said, “It is only when you listen to retail workers that you get a real insight into their lives on the frontline; their testimonies are chilling.
"Usdaw and retail employers are absolutely clear that the staff are far more valuable than the stock and our clear advice to retail workers is not to put yourself in danger. So, we utterly condemn the Conservative ‘have a go if you think you’re big enough’ policy.
“That is a totally irresponsible position and perhaps gives us a little insight into the Tory Government’s 14 years of failure on crime and policing.
"They drastically cut police numbers and effectively decriminalised shoplifting with the ineffective use of Fixed Penalty Notices for thefts valued under £200. Tory ministers and MPs repeatedly voted down Labour’s attempts to change the law to protect retail workers; their dither and delay exposed thousands to assault, threats and abuse," Thomas added.
Usdaw’s survey of nearly 9,000 UK retail workers found that four in five had been assaulted, threatened or abused, with 68% saying that they had suffered an incident triggered by shop theft or an armed robbery. Four in ten retail workers feel anxious about going to work and a third are considering changing their job.
Thomas continued, "In stark contrast, we now have Labour’s Crime and Policing Bill, which includes a much-needed protection of shop workers’ law; ends the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters and introduces Respect Orders for offenders. The Government is determined to drive down retail crime by working in close partnership with the police and the retail sector to take the actions that will make the most difference.
"Their police reforms are moving national responsibilities away from local forces, so they focus on tackling local issues. Also, with their Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, every community now has a named contactable officer, dedicated to addressing local issues, including shop theft.
“After many years of campaigning, alongside retail employers, it really now feels like the Government is listening and taking action to give all retail workers across the UK the protections and respect they deserve. We certainly do not want to return to the dark days of Conservative austerity, police cuts and a refusal to address retail crime, which doubled under their watch.”