THE positive actions taken so far by the government in response to the retail crime epidemic it inherited are making a difference, but much more needs to be done.

Retail crime remains at record levels, with over half a million recorded shoplifting incidents a year. This is not a victimless crime, with two-thirds of our members reporting that shop theft was the trigger for an attack.

It is heartbreaking to see the stories from our members, the voices from the front line: “Daily, gangs of thieves shouting and swinging bags with stolen goods in them”; “Threats after Think 25 policy refusal”; “Physical abuse from an intoxicated customer”; “Clock thrown at me”; “A man repeatedly came in and groped staff from behind”; “Trolley rammed into my ankle”; “Racial hatred in the extreme.”

Retail crime doubled after the pandemic, but the rate of shoplifting has slightly reduced over the last two quarters. It is a small sign that the tide is beginning to turn under Labour, after the Tories repeatedly refused to act and indeed made matters worse by decriminalising shop theft under the value of £200, an open invitation to criminals to help themselves.

Labour scrapped that ridiculous policy as part of their landmark Crime and Policing Act, which also introduced Respect Orders for repeat offenders and a standalone offence for assaulting a shopworker. While Respect Orders will be available from October 26, we are yet to have an enactment date for the standalone offence.

The government’s investment in and reform of policing — it has delivered over 3,000 additional police officers and PCSOs into neighbourhood roles — is much needed. However, officers must also have the tools to tackle retail crime and assaults on workers.

We are urging the government to enact the standalone offence of assaulting a shopworker during Usdaw’s Respect Week (November 9 to 15), which brings together workers, retailers and the police.

Scotland’s protection of workers’ law came into force five years ago and inspired similar legislation in the rest of the UK. We know that it works when used, because it has punished over 11,000 offenders in Scotland since it was introduced.

However, the Scottish government has failed to invest in policing and that has resulted in a record-breaking rise in shoplifting, with a 19 per cent increase last year.

Unfortunately, retail home delivery drivers were not included in the protection of shopworkers’ legislation in England and Wales, unlike in Scotland. These workers ensure that customers who cannot make it to a store are able to access the provisions they need.

They also help to keep communities safe by enforcing age-restricted sales laws. It is unacceptable that 13 per cent of delivery drivers have been assaulted in the last 12 months and 26 per cent have had to refuse a delivery due to concerns over personal safety.

In addition to legislating to provide adequate legal protections, it is essential that the government protects all retail workers.

Passing legislation is not enough on its own; it must be backed up with investment in policing and priority given to tackling retail crime. Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job, and too many shop workers suffer all too often.

We still need better co-ordination to ensure that retail employers, police and the courts work together to make stores safer and give staff the support and confidence they need.

At Congress, we are calling for support in extending the specific offence of assaulting a retail worker to home delivery drivers and keeping pressure on the government to continue to drive down retail crime, helping to protect workers from violence, threats and abuse.

Joanne Thomas is general secretary of Usdaw.