Leading trade bodies have said they will continue to fight for better shopworker protection after the government “once again” failed to take further action against the rising tide of retail crime in the House of Lords this week.
It comes after Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative) and Lord Coaker (Labour) put forward two amendments to the government’s flagship policing bill that would have made attacking a retail worker a more serious offence.
The issue of shopworker abuse was debated but it was the government’s position that existing powers were sufficient, meaning the amendments were not put down for a vote and withdrawn.
During the debate, Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford said: “Obviously, a wide range of offences already exist covering assaults on any worker, including retail workers, and they include offences such as common assaults.”
The Association of Convenience Stores has voiced its disappointment over the government’s move, despite its persistent lobbying with other trade bodies and major retailers.
CEO James Lowman said: “We are extremely disappointed that the government has once again failed to take urgent action to protect colleagues working in our sector.
”These amendments would’ve introduced a new specific offence for attacks on shopworkers in line with recently passed legislation in Scotland and provided our colleagues with the additional protection that they so desperately need.
“Violent and abusive incidents can be traumatic for the individuals, often with significant emotional and physical implications, and shopworkers should be provided with the same level of protection across the UK.
“Violence and abuse towards staff is a top concern for retailers and we will continue to call for the government to introduce tougher penalties for attacks on shopworkers to send the clear message that these incidents are unacceptable and should not be tolerated.”
NFRN chairman of political engagement committee Shahid Razzaq added: “We are grateful to the members of the House of Lords who supported retailers during the debate by raising the plight that people working in shops face every day. Theft, vandalism and physical and verbal attacks are an all too familiar part of life for independent retailers.
“We will continue to lobby the government, police chiefs and police and crime commissioners for greater legal protection for everyone who works in retail.”
There is still hope, however, among the industry that the government will table its own amendment to the bill as it continues to make its way through the Lords. This comes after the government made previous commitments to address the issue during a former debate on the bill in the Commons in July.
At that time, crime minister Victoria Atkins said: “I make it clear that we want to assure my honourable friend and members of all parties that we are not complacent about the matter and that we are actively considering tabling an amendment, if appropriate, in the Lords.”
Baroness Williams added during the debate this week: “In the Commons, minister Atkins committed to actively consider this issue and that remains the government’s position, but as part of that process of consideration I very much wanted to hear and then reflect on the debate today.”
The government is yet to come forward with its own proposals and may wait until the report stage, according to the ACS.
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