Retail coalition calls for parliamentary inquiry on violence against shop workers

The British Retail Consortium (BRC), the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), Usdaw and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) are calling on the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, Yvette Cooper, to launch an inquiry on retail violence.

A press release notes that the UK government has rejected numerous calls to protect shop workers through the creation of a specific offence which would impose tougher penalties on perpetrators.

Retailers spent a record £1.2 billion on crime prevention in 2019, yet violence and abuse is on the rise with over 400 incidents every day, according the BRC’s latest Crime Survey. ACS’s 2020 Crime Report found that there were over 50,000 violent incidents in local shops.

Staff have been verbally and violently assaulted, as well as spat at and coughed on for challenging shoplifters, enforcing age-restricted sales and implementing coronavirus safety measures.

A letter to Cooper asks the committee to “investigate this growing problem of violence and abuse against retail workers and the measures the government should be taking to address it” and urges a focus on the government’s response to the Call for Evidence.

Over 50 cross-party MPs have thus far signed the BRC Shopworkers’ Protection Pledge, which was launched last month.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the BRC, says: “How many more shopworkers must be needlessly assaulted before the government will act? Existing legislation meant to protect these workers is not working, and many of those committing these appalling crimes are not being held to account.”

“Meanwhile, the victims and their families are left carrying the physical and emotional scars. The incidents are becoming more frequent, which is why we urgently need the Home Affairs Committee to hold an investigation into this crucial issue.”