Retailers want specific offence created, as employers are shown caring for staff pays dividends
As the government is being called on to implement tougher measures to combat a 50% increase in levels of violence against shop staff, uplifting short films have been released championing the importance of retail employers looking after their staff.
The British Retail Consortium’s latest crime survey shows daily incidents against shop workers shot up 50% to 1,300 in 2023, including sexual harassment, racial abuse, physical assault and threats – hitting the same level as during the pandemic, where shop staff bore the brunt of some people’s frustration over the Covid safety measures.
The trade association said the rise comes despite retailers of all sizes spending £1.2billion on measures such as cctv, body cameras and increased security personnel over the year, up from £722million the previous year – and the cost of theft also rose from £953m the previous year to £1.8bn, making the total cost of crime for retailers £3.3bn.
And retailers are calling for the introduction of a standalone offence of assaulting, threatening or abusing a retail worker – which already exists in Scotland – so they feel safer in the workplace and the police would have the data to understand the scale of the issue and allocate sufficient resources.
BRC ceo Helen Dickinson said: “Despite retailers investing huge sums in crime prevention, violence and abuse against retail workers is climbing. With over 1,300 incidents every day, government can no longer ignore the plight of ordinary, hardworking retail colleagues – teenagers taking on their first job, carers looking for part-time work, parents working around childcare.
“While the violence can be over in a moment, the victims carry these experiences with them for a lifetime and we all know the impact does not stop there – it affects their colleagues, friends, and the family our colleagues go home to.
“Criminals are being given a free pass to steal goods and to abuse and assault retail colleagues. No one should have to go to work fearing for their safety.
“The Protection Of Workers Act in Scotland already provides additional protection to retail workers, so why should our hardworking colleagues south of the border be offered less protection? It is vital that government takes action – introducing a new standalone offence for assaulting or abusing a retail worker.”
While the survey shows dissatisfaction with the police has increased – 60% of respondents described their response to incidents as “poor” or “very poor” and only 8% of reported cases of violence and abuse are prosecuted – Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne supports the law change, adding: “The levels of retail crime described in this report reveal an unprecedented level of selfish lawlessness.
She is also the Association Of Police & Crime Commissioner’s lead for business crime and called on her fellow pccs to “focus their police forces on tackling shoplifting by making it a priority in their local Police & Crime Plans”.
Meanwhille, the International Longevity Centre (ILC) has launched five short films championing retail employers caring for staff throughout their lives, one of which can be seen below.
Showcasing the work of the Retail Trust, a charity which supports those working and retired from the UK retail industry, the shorts help retailers recognize that as the population ages, opening up job opportunities to workers of all ages will be vital as supporting employees through and beyond their working lives reduces turnover costs, ensures customers receive great service and makes business sense.
The charity has five supported living estates, in London, Derby, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Salford, where older people with more than five years’ service in the retail industry, can qualify for a home, and the films feature residents Terry, who worked at John Lewis for 24 years, and Phyllis, who spent 28 years at Tesco.
ILC retail impact fellow Ailsa Forbes said: “The film illustrates how it is possible for employees to feel well supported and cared for by an employer over many years. The pride and positivity with which Terry and Phyllis talk about their former employers should inspire all retailers, regardless of their size, to make sure their staff feel supported and positive about their jobs.
“Retailers must never forget that their staff are their superpower. There is no doubt that team members who feel listened to and supported will feel greater loyalty to their employer and are likely to want to remain working for them for longer. This results in healthier workforces and greater profitability for businesses.”
