Crime and Policing Bill, which introduces a standalone offence for attacking a shop worker and ends the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifting, has cleared the passage of its third reading in the House of Lords.
The legislation will now return to the House of Commons for consideration of Lords amendments in the next stage of the parliamentary process.
Home Office Minister Lord Hanson opened the debate by explaining that the Government is in continuing conversations about the application of the Crime and Policing Bill in Wales, after Members of the Senedd, representing the Conservatives, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru, combined to decline consent to the Bill.
The move has been warmly received by Usdaw, which represents thousands of workers across supermarkets, convenience stores and the wider retail sector, amid continued concern over rising levels of theft and violence in stores.
Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary says, “No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but our evidence shows that nearly four in five of our members working in retail are being abused, threatened and assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community. They provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law.
“It is difficult to understand why the main opposition parties in Wales came together to oppose a new law to protect retail staff.
"Shoplifting in Wales has doubled since the pandemic, and that is directly linked to the increase in attacks on staff. It would be shameful if the Tories, Plaid and Reform have blocked this important legislation from applying in Wales.
“However, we welcome Peers today passing the Crime and Policing Bill, which includes a much-needed protection of shop workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters and Respect Orders for offenders. Scotland already has a protection of retail workers law and the Northern Ireland Executive introduced their Sentencing Bill earlier this year, which contains a similar measure.
“After many years of campaigning alongside retail employers, it really now feels like governments are listening and taking action to give all retail workers across the UK the protections and respect they deserve.
"Once the legislation is enacted we need to ensure that it is enforced by working with government, councils, police and retailers to raise awareness, improve reporting and the response to retail crime.
“The Government is already taking action to drive down retail crime by working in close partnership with the police and retail sector to take the actions that will make the most difference.
"Their police reforms are lifting national responsibilities off 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.”