The Assaults on Retail Workers Bill
Harsher penalties for people abusing shop workers may pass into law.
The Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill is a Private Members Bill under the 10 minute rule, and is being put forward by Nottingham North MP, Alex Norris.
After a successful First Reading, there has been strong support ahead of a Second Reading. This has included the bosses of 23 major retail companies including all of the large supermarkets.
What is the problem?
According to the shop workers Union, USDAW, almost two thirds of shop workers were verbally abused during the first month of lockdown, almost 30% threatened and over 4% assaulted.
The assault figure suggests over 3500 assaults per day on shop workers in Britain. USDAWs survey was conducted mainly in larger, unionised workplaces and may be an underestimate – the union believes that workers in smaller shops are at greater risk. The survey also only looks at the number of victims, and some may have been victimised more than once.
USDAW has been expressing concern for a number of years and campaigning for stronger measures to protect shop workers.
Earlier campaigns pointed out that shop workers are especially vulnerable when asking shoppers to provide proof of age to purchase age restricted products. Many supermarkets operate a “challenge 25” policy, including for items for which the legal minimum age for purchase is 16. The welfare of staff having to apprehend suspected shoplifters is also a concern.
What does the Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill try to achieve?
Certain offences would be regarded as “aggravated” by a court of law if aimed at a shop worker doing their job. That would mean harsher penalties.
The offences would include violence, and also offences under the Criminal Justice Act, which include threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour.
Will offenders be prosecuted?
Serious offenders probably will be. Our guess is that the verbal abuse that shop workers encounter every day are less likely to be prosecuted. Shops, especially supermarkets, rely on customers returning regularly and may not want to alienate them for a minor incident.
Will it work?
The President of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, supporting the Bill, said “the government has to act and tackle retail crime once and for”.
We’re used to calls for harsher penalties whenever there is concern over crime or anti-social behaviour. It is believed that the penalties will act as a deterrent.
The theory of deterrence depends upon the belief that offenders will think logically about the consequences of their actions. Threats against shop workers are usually made by customers who are angry about something, and angry people often lose their sense of logic. So it remains to be seen.
By the way, the UK already has the third largest prison population in Europe after Russia and Turkey! Does that make us safer?
Since this post was written the Government has refused to support the Bill and set a delayed date for its second reading of Friday 30th October.
