Government still noncommittal on new law to tackle retail crime

The government has once again rejected the demand for a specific offence to tackle the menace of violence and abuse against shop workers, reiterating that existing laws are enough to address the issue.

In its response to a report from the Home Affairs Select Committee, the government said: “A wide range of offences already exist that cover assaults against any worker, including retail workers. Such offences include common assault, actual bodily harm, grievous bodily harm, harassment and other public order offences, all of which criminalise threatening or abusive behaviour intended to harass, alarm or distress a person.”

The Committee has recommended introducing a new offence of assaulting a shop worker, providing extra protection for shop workers in law.

Trade bodies have been calling on the government to amend the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to create a such new offence, similar to the Scottish law that came into effect late last month.

Commenting on the government response, James Lowman, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, said: “We are disappointed the government is not committing to supporting legislation to create a specific offence of assaulting a shop worker.

“Unions, retailers and shop workers all told the Home Affairs Committee that this is needed to ensure effective penalties and to send a message about the importance of these essential workers. We are pleased that the government’s response confirms they will consider amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, and to look at legislation passed in Scotland that creates this separate offence, but the case has been made and the government should act now.”

Figures from the 2021 ACS Crime Report show that there were over 40,000 violent attacks against people working in convenience stores and 1.1 million incidents of theft over the last year, many of which committed by repeat offenders with a drug or alcohol addiction.

“Retailers and their colleagues are bearing the brunt of failings throughout the police and criminal justice system: poor response, lack of interest in investigating repeat offenders, and inadequate sentences for those who are convicted. The Committee’s inquiry has raised the profile of these issues, we now need a comprehensive plan, backed by proper resources, to tackle violence against retailers,” Lowman added.

He urged retailers to report all crimes to the police but noted that the biggest deterrent to reporting is not getting a response from police forces. The ACS provides a comprehensive package of guidance to its members on reporting and managing crime, including working with the Suzy Lamplugh Trust on work place safety on in the convenience sector, he added.