Retail trade union, Usdaw, has welcomed an announcement from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, that the Government will introduce new Respect Orders as part of the Crime and Policing Bill.
The orders are a modernised version of the anti-social behaviour orders and are aimed at serious offenders. They give police and councils powers to crack down on repeated anti-social behaviour, ensuring repeat offenders face the consequences of their actions. These new powers come alongside a commitment to fund thousands more neighbourhood officers and PCSOs, it says.
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary, said: “After years of the Conservatives effectively decriminalising retail crime, leading to a more than doubling in shoplifting since the pandemic, we now have a Government that’s delivering on its promise to bring town centre crime under control.
“We very much welcome the announcement of new Respect Orders to tackle repeat offenders who terrorise shops and high streets, striking fear into the hearts of retail workers whenever they enter the store. We also look forward to a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law and ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals. The Chancellor also announced in the Budget funding for more uniformed officer patrols and action to tackle organised crime gangs who target retail stores. It is our hope that these new measures will help give shop workers the respect they deserve.
“It is increasingly common for retail stores to be targeted by organised crime gangs stealing to order. This is in no way a victimless crime, with weapons and violence used. Having to deal with repeated and persistent offences can cause issues beyond the theft itself, like anxiety, fear and physical harm to retail workers. Interim results from Usdaw’s latest annual survey found that one in seven retail workers had suffered incidents of violence, threats and abuse that were triggered by theft from shops and armed robbery. Our members are clearly saying ‘enough is enough’ and Labour is delivering.”
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