Working in Dublin’s fear city
Shop staff concern over rising violence
FEARS Dublin city centre violence is at an all-time high have prompted calls for a new Bill with specific offences related to attacks on shop workers.
Reports of anti-social behaviour have proliferated since the Covid-19 pandemic. Retailers and food and entertainment businesses in the city centre have warned of lawless gangs of youths terrorising the area.
Meanwhile, a shocking study last year showed that over 95% of shop owners had been victims of crime in just a 12 month period.
The survey of over 400 convenience shops, forecourt stores and supermarkets throughout Ireland, conducted by retailers’ organisation RGDATA, showed over two thirds of retailers now feel more vulnerable in their shops than they did in the past.
The RGDATA Crime Survey also revealed that a staggering 93% of respondents had been victims of shoplifting, 40% had suffered due to fraud in their shops and 25% had been the victims of robberies or burglaries.
A Fianna Fail senator has now proposed new legislation called the Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2024 with specific offences for assaulting or threatening retail workers.
However, a Dublin councillor criticised the plan and claimed “the horse has already bolted”.
ABUSE
Speaking about his proposals, Senator Malcolm Byrne said: “It is no exaggeration to say that retail workers face horrible abuse, such as physical and verbal attacks, while they are simply trying to carry out their work.
“From meeting with and speaking to owners of convenience stores, retail stores and service stations and to people working in them around the country, it is clear that the level of abuse they face is unbearable and there is a clear need to toughen legislation in this space.
“In launching this Bill, I have looked to Scottish law as an example. The Bill I have launched provides for specific offences with regard to attacks on retail workers, especially when it comes to their having to enforce agerelated rules.
“By creating specific offences for attacks on retail workers we will be taking an important, necessary step to ensure retail workers and the environment within which they work is free from violence and harassment.”
His proposed Protection of Retail Workers Bill 2024 would amend the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 to create specific offences for assaulting or threatening retail workers carrying out their employment.
The move follows years of attacks and robberies against local people, tourists, and delivery workers like bicycle couriers.
Some couriers refused to deliver to certain areas, while others stopped wearing company branded clothing and food bags to avoid attention.
Gardai increased patrols to provide a greater visible sense of security in the city centre.
But critics point out that this was not enough to deter the riots in Dublin city centre of last November when shops were looted and vehicles were set ablaze.
RACISM
Trade union SIPTU yesterday published a survey to report its members’ fears that incidence of drug use and racism are on the rise, contributing to more abuse and anti-social behaviour on Dublin’s streets.
Dublin City councillor Mannix Flynn yesterday said a key solution to the issue of problems in the capital is more gardai.
He said: “This horse has bolted, this race is over. We have a police force in the region of 14,000 and that is ineffectual. They have low morale. People on the streets are terrified. A lot of the violence is underpinned by drink and drugs, yet the Government is trying to legislate for longer opening hours and to decriminalise drugs.
“They claim it is a societal issue. If you get assaulted, it is hard luck. We don’t have the capacity in our prisons to deal with more inmates.
The horse has bolted, race is over ..security is non existent MANNIX FLYNN YESTERDAY
GANGS
“So the idea of specific sentences [ for assaulting or threatening retail workers] needs questioning.
“Stats show you that the people in court for problems committed in the city centre are from estates.
“Gangs are running amok in housing estates. We saw this during last year’s riots. Security is non-existent in our city centre.”