This week is Respect for Shop workers Week, and the retail trade union Usdaw is raising awareness of it year-round Freedom From Fear Campaign. Over two-thirds of members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence, says the union’s General Secretary, Paddy Lillis.
Most, seven in ten of such incidents were triggered by theft from shops, he said. “It has become increasingly common for retail stores to be targeted by organised crime gangs stealing to order amid a retail crime epidemic.
“Our survey demonstrates that theft from shops is not a victimless crime, with incidents regularly being a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shop workers. Having to deal with repeated and persistent theft and even looting can cause issues beyond the incident itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers. Our members are reporting that they are often faced with hardened career criminals in their stores and much of the abuse they suffer is from those who are stealing to sell goods on, often to fund an addiction.
“After 14 years of successive Tory governments not delivering the change we need on retail crime, we are pleased that the new Labour Government announced a Crime and Policing Bill in the King’s Speech. This new legislation will deliver a much-needed protection of shop workers’ law; end the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; along with town centre banning orders for repeat offenders. The Chancellor announced in the Budget funding to tackle the organised criminals responsible for the increase in shoplifting and the Government has promised more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas. It is our hope that these new measures will help give shop workers the respect they deserve.
“This week, Usdaw activists will be campaigning in their workplaces and communities calling on the shopping public to ‘respect shop workers’ and ‘keep your cool’, particularly in the run-up to Christmas when the number of incidents increases as shops get busy and customers become frustrated. This is a hugely important issue for our members and they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough.”
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A recent report by the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee recommended numerous measures to deal with shop theft, which retail welcomed such as the trade body the Association of Convenience Stores. ACS chief exec James Lowman said: “We know that millions of incidents of theft go unreported every year because retailers feel as though nothing will be done, which is a trend that we need to reverse or risk effectively decriminalising theft.”
About the survey
Based on 4,073 responses: 69 per cent were verbally abused, 45pc were threatened. 17pc of shop workers had been assaulted. Of those who were abused, threatened or assaulted, 70pc said that shoplifting was the trigger and their assessment of the underlying issues was 64pc related to a drug and/or alcohol addiction. The final results of the survey will be published in March 2025.
