MPs urged to back new law to protect shopworkers from violence

CALLS have been made for MPs to support a campaign for legislation to give shopworkers more protection from violence and abuse.

Retail trade union Usdaw said MPs will have the opportunity to back its campaign during a debate on the Government’s Policing Bill today.

It comes after bosses at Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Primark wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to support an amendment to the Bill.

The letter, co-ordinated by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), argues that an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will help tackle escalating violence and abuse against retail staff.

Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “Usdaw is looking for a simple stand-alone offence that is easily understood, not just by the legal profession, but by the criminals who are assaulting, threatening and terrifying shopworkers.

“A separate offence for assaulting a retail worker would encourage prosecutions and provide the deterrent effect that our members are desperately looking for.

“When retail employers, leading retail bodies and the shopworkers’ trade union jointly call for legislation, it is time for the Government and MPs to listen.”

Retailers have reported a surge in incidents of violence in recent years which they say has been exacerbated by the pandemic, with shop-floor staff having to enforce rules such as social distancing and wearing face masks.

The most recent crime survey of retailers revealed a seven per cent year-on-year increase in violence and abuse in 2019 to 455 cases each day.

According to the BRC, retailers are spending record amounts on crime prevention and have invested £1.2bn in a range of measures, including body-worn cameras, personal attack alarms and increased security personnel, in the past year.