The Home Secretary has today (Tuesday 7 July) set out plans
to crack down on abuse and violence against shopworkers.
The steps, which are detailed in the Home Office’s
response to a call for evidence on the issue, are
designed to improve support for victims and ensure
perpetrators face justice.
They include working with the National Retail Crime
Steering Group (NRCSG) on a best practice guide to support
staff in reporting these crimes, strengthening and making
full use of existing laws, and improving data sharing
between businesses and the police.
In addition, the Crime and Policing Minister will write to
PCCs and Chief Constables underscoring the importance of
working closely with local businesses to tackle this issue
and emphasising that the theft of goods valued up to £200
from a shop should be prosecuted as a criminal offence.
Home Secretary said:
As the daughter of shopkeepers, I know what a vital role
they play within our communities and just how tirelessly
they have worked during the coronavirus pandemic.
I will not tolerate violence and abuse against any
shopworker and it’s right that those who commit these
crimes must be caught and punished.
, Minister of State for
Crime and Policing said:
Shopworkers are the beating hearts of our communities and
violence or abuse against them is utterly unacceptable.
Through the NRCSG, we are developing solutions which
address concerns highlighted by the retail sector.
We are determined to drive down these crimes and
crucially, ensure that shopworkers are fully supported in
reporting incidents to the police.
The government is taking action to tackle violent crime
of all types, including by recruiting 20,000 new police
officers over the next 3 years.
The call for evidence was open for 12 weeks. Organisations
and individuals were asked to contribute to the
government’s understanding of the problem.
Responses were sought from retailers, trade associations
and unions, as well as those working in the retail
industry. Nearly 3,500 individuals, businesses and other
organisations engaged in the process.
The majority of respondents believed abuse toward shop
staff has increased and a significant number said they did
not report incidents to the police.
The government response sets out a programme of work
designed to address the drivers of violence and assaults
against shopworkers and provide effective support to
victims in reporting such crimes.
In terms of sentencing, laws announced in the Queen’s
Speech contain proposals for tougher community penalties,
tackling the underlying drivers of offending such as mental
health or drug and alcohol addiction.
The Sentencing Council is reviewing its guidelines for
courts on assault and published interim guidance in April
2020 clarifying that it should be treated as an aggravating
factor when assault involves threats around Covid-19 (eg
spitting or coughing). It is already an aggravating factor
for an offence to be committed against anyone providing a
service to the public.
More widely, the government is taking steps to improve
support for all victims of crime, including a future
consultation on a Victims’ Law.
