The epidemic of crime against shopworkers is far from over. Retail crime is rife and shopworkers across the sector have tolerated abuse and violence for too long.
There was hope last summer’s new law making shopworker attacks an aggravated offence would lead to a more effective police response and criminal deterrent. But we’re yet to see the evidence.
16% of all sector crime is reported by retailers. Freedom of Information request showed police had failed to respond 71% of the time. As a result, shopworkers’ faith in the law implemented to protect them is fading. Some shopworkers are holding up their end of the bargain and reporting crime – ensuring more accurate data – but the police need to step up their game and deliver with investigations.
Progress may be underway as police forces have pledged to investigate every reported crime. The pledge would see more time and resource dedicated to tackling reported offences, but only those with reasonable lead time to gather evidence, such as CCTV and eyewitness accounts.
Actions, as they say, speak louder than words. So, retailers and trade bodies must strike while the iron is hot to not only maintain pressure on police forces to uphold their promises, but also encourage their own staff and members to better engage with local PCCs, particularly with an election on the horizon.
Retailers should be looking at the upcoming PCC elections as an opportunity to get the issues facing their businesses higher up the agenda. The foundation for a shift change is laid out. The sector must grip the opportunities of police pledges, scathing data and political motivation to drive some much-needed change for its workers.