Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Starmer vows to get tough on retail crime

Starmer vows to get tough on retail crime
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks on day three of the Trades Union Congress on September 10, 2024 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)

Labour would “go further” to crack down on rising retail crime and shopworker abuse, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at the Trade Unions Conference on Tuesday (10).

Addressing the delegates at annual Trades Union Congress in Brighton, Starmer expressed concern to the rising retail crime levels in the country.


Responding to a question from Usdaw on abuse of shop workers, Starmer siad, "On the question of offences against retail workers, this truly is shocking. Usdaw has a very important campaign on this, and [General Secretary] Paddy Lillis raises it with me pretty well every time we meet - and rightly so. It is not acceptable, and it can’t be acceptable in any circumstances. It is demoralising for the workforce, and that’s why I’m pleased we can introduce an offence to deal with it.

“But we have to go further than that. We can’t have the situation where shoplifters can walk in, shoplift and walk back out again and nobody can do anything about it. We’re going to change that, work with you. We have to take it seriously. I’m not wanting to hear again from those on the front line about the appalling attacks and insults that they are subjected to.

“It’s everywhere across the country; it is really hard for the workforce to take. You have rightly championed it as a cause. We join in that cause and we will do something about it, working with trade unions on such an important issue.”

Usdaw President Jane Jones asked, “I work in retail and increasing levels of violence, threats and abuse are a massive concern for me and my colleagues. Labour's welcome commitment to introduce a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker will send out a clear message that this Government takes retail crime seriously."

Speaking after the speech in the Brighton Centre, Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary said, “Keir’s address was an honest account of where our broken economy stands, after it was trashed by the Conservatives. He laid bare the hard work and tough choices that will have to be taken as we head towards the light at the end of the tunnel, to deliver new hope for the country."

More for you

 ATM machine
Brits pull out nearly £80bn from LINK ATMs in 2024
Photo: iStock

Uneven transition: Where cash still clings on in Britain

The UK’s transition away from cash continues to accelerate, nearly five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report released today by LINK, the UK's cash access and ATM network.

While the trend towards a low-cash society is clear, the pace of this shift varies significantly across the country, indicating a complex and evolving payment landscape.

Keep ReadingShow less
Warning raised around slush drinks

slush drinks

iStock image

Warning raised against 'poor transparency' around slush drinks

Warnings have been issued against slush ice drinks by medical researchers, saying that poor transparency around slush ice drink glycerol concentration makes estimating a safe dose tricky.

Public health advice on the safe consumption of glycerol-containing slush ice drinks, also known as slushees, may need revising, stated medical researchers after carrying out a detailed review of the medical notes of 21 children who became acutely unwell shortly after drinking one of these products.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rising crime is devastating the Scottish convenience sector.

SGF Crime Report & Safer Business Guide

Photo: iStock

Crime devastating Scottish convenience sector: SGF

Retail crime is on the rise and the impact on staff, businesses and communities can be overwhelming, shows a Scottish retail industry's report released today (13), prompting calls from retailers for urgent support.

Figures published in the SGF Crime Report & Safer Business Guide 2024/25, reveal the appalling escalation in retail crime in recent years is only getting worse, while the sector continues to call for urgent action from government.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK government abolishes Payment Systems Regulator shifting responsibilities to FCA
Photo: iStock

Concerns raised over government's decision to abolish Payment Systems Regulator

As the government has confirmed that it will abolish the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) as part of its drive to cut red tape and boost economic growth, payments platform Ecommpay voiced concerns over the potential risks of dismantling a dedicated regulator at a time of heightened scrutiny in the payments sector.

Willem Wellinghoff, chief compliance officer and UK chair of Ecommpay, acknowledged the government’s commitment to "streamlining regulation, simplifying the amount of regulators that companies have to manage, and fostering economic growth through its deregulatory agenda."

Keep ReadingShow less
Digital wallets are set to account for 33% of in-store payments in the UK by 2030

UK payment landscape cash decline and rise of digital payments

iStock image

'UK embraces digital payments, yet cash remains key'

While digital payments dominate, with digital wallets set to rise to 33 per cent of in-store spending by 2030, traditional methods continue to hold ground in a fragmented UK market, shows a recent report mapping the UK’s payment landscape over the past decade.

According to the 10th edition of the Worldpay Global Payments Report (GPR),, the UK has witnessed a significant decline in cash use over the past decade, with its share of point-of-sale (POS) spending dropping from 32 per cent to 10 per cent between 2014 and 2024, accounting for £128 billion of in-store transactions.

Keep ReadingShow less