Labour will “go further” than introducing a specific offence for assaulting a shop worker, vowed Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the annual Trades Union Congress in Brighton.
It comes after the Prime Minister took a series of questions from delegates after his keynote address to the Congress.
Usdaw President and retail worker in North Wales Jane Jones posed the question: “I work in retail and increasing levels of violence, threats and abuse are a massive concern for me and my colleagues. Labour’s welcome commitment to introduce a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker will send out a clear message that this government takes retail crime seriously. What more will your government do to help us feel safe at work?”
Starmer responded that offences against retail workers are “truly shocking”, explaining how Jones had raised the issue several times, referencing Usdaw’s “very important campaign on this”.
He said that he had visited stores big and small across the UK and the number one issue mentioned by shopworkers was the level of abuse they face.
“It’s not acceptable, it can’t be acceptable in any circumstances. It is demoralising for the workforce in every single way and that’s why I’m really pleased that we can introduce an offence to deal with it, but we have to go further than that.
“We can’t have the situation where a shoplifter can walk in, shoplift and walk back out again and nobody can do anything about it. We’re going to turn that change that, work with you, this has to be specific uplifted offence, we have to take it seriously.
“I’m not wanting to hear again from those that are on the front line about the appalling attacks and insults that they are subjected to, its everywhere across the country. It is really hard for the workforce to take,” he said.
Starmer ended stating that Labour will work with Usdaw and other trade unions to “do something about it”.
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