Shopworker violence law gets cold shoulder from government – again

Today (September) the Home Affairs Select Committee published the government’s response to its report on violence and abuse towards retail workers.

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.”

ACS chief executive James Lowman responded: “We are disappointed the government is not committing to supporting legislation to create a specific offence of assaulting a shopworker.

“Unions, retailers and shopworkers all told the Home Affairs Committee 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.

“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.”

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

Lowman added: “We encourage our members to report all crimes to the police, but the biggest deterrent to reporting is not getting a response from police forces.

“We provide a comprehensive package of guidance to our members on reporting and managing crime, including working with the Suzy Lamplugh Trust on workplace safety in the convenience sector.”

The ACS is co-ordinating with the Home Office, Crimestoppers and more than 100 leading retailers in the UK on the ShopKind campaign, urging consumers to be respectful of others while in stores.