Prime minister Keir Starmer revealed at the Trades Union Conference on 10 September that Labour would “go further” on tackling retail crime than only introducing the standalone offence for assaulting a shop worker.

Starmer was asked by Usdaw president Jane Jones at the conference what Labour would do to make shopfloor staff feel safe at work, to which Starmer said the government “have to take it seriously”.

“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 a situation where shoplifters can walk in, shoplift and walk back out again and nobody can do anything about it,” he said.

“We have to take it seriously, and 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. It’s everywhere across the country, it is really hard for the workforce to take. [Usdaw] has rightly championed it and, of course, we join you in that cause and we’ll do something about it, working with you and other trade unions – it’s such an important issue.” 

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Starmer made reference to his visits of Iceland and Morrisons, where both branches told him about the increase in abuse they are facing in relation to shoplifting, and more generally as their “number one issue” at work. 

In July, the government announced it would make attacking a shop worker a standalone offence under the new Crime and Policing Bill. The legislation aims to reduce the serious violence faced by shop workers and introduce stronger measures to tackle low-level shoplifting.

The Fed’s president Mo Razzaq said: ““We are pleased to hear the new prime minister pledge to go further to tackle retail crime but we want to see action, not just words. Everyone has the right to feel safe at work and for their businesses to be protected against criminals.

“The Fed already engages with police and crime commissioners and local authorities on ways in which smaller independent retailers can protect themselves, their staff and their stores from crime and we look forward to discussing with the government ways that members can be supported better through grants and specialist advice.”

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