Notts Police backs #ShopKind campaign

Nottinghamshire Police has lent its support for a national campaign to protect shop workers from violence and abuse.

The Shop Kind campaign, led by the Home Office, unites the retail sector and encourages positive behaviour in shops as well as acknowledging the important role shop workers play in our communities.

The force’s support for the campaign follows a series of interventions, including a crackdown on shoplifting in Clifton, which saw offences plummet and a number of prolific offenders locked up across the county.

“Retail crime can often be seen as a victimless crime. However when shop staff suffer threats by these offenders they can be left living in fear both inside and outside of the workplace,” PC Joanna Baxter, of Nottinghamshire Police, said.

“We need to understand that and think carefully about what additional steps we can put in place to protect that person. That could include investigating someone for more serious offences such as affray, and also considering other civil measures such as community behaviour orders.”

As they attend reports of shoplifting, Baxter noted, officers consider other offences, and the steps they can take to better support the staff affected, including patrols and regular engagement with shop staff.

They also work to refer offenders, where appropriate, for rehabilitation and ensure they get any necessary help for issues such as addiction and mental health, and regularly work with university students studying a policing and investigations degree to positively engage with the shops, she added.

“Incidents can very often go hand in hand with addiction and mental health issues. So, we proactively look to assist with referring those who require support for this to the relevant organisations and ensure they get the help they need. By tackling any potential underlying factors, our aim is to prevent any further incidents,” Baxter said.

“We’re encouraging local businesses and shop staff to get involved in this campaign and make use of the resources on the Home Office website.”

Commenting, Victoria Crorken, group head of risk for The Co-op, said: “As retailers, our priority is to protect our store colleagues. It isn’t part of their job to be physically assaulted or verbally abused while serving their local communities.

“We want our shop workers to be treated with the respect they deserve and have worked closely with Nottinghamshire Police to identify and prosecute those offenders who have caused the most harm.”

Philip Jackson, chairman of Worksop and Retford Shopwatch, added: “Shopwatch fully supports Nottinghamshire Police in its involvement with the Shop Kind campaign. Shop workers should not have to put up with abuse and violence.

“Shopwatch is well supported by the police who deal with our violent and abusive shoplifting offenders. We encourage our member stores to report all violent and abusive customers to the police.”