Report on Violence and Abuse Towards Retail Workers

The Home Affairs Select Committee published its report on Violence and Abuse Towards Retail Workers at the end of June and it recognised the role that BCRPs play in keeping retail workers safe.

In summary, the Committee called for:

• Improvements in reporting and responding to violence and assaults against shop workers, with local police leadership in this area urgently required;

• Police and Crime Commissioners to work with local retailers to establish or strengthen Business Crime Reduction Partnerships in every area;

• A renewed focus and action on the causes of retail crime, eg. drugs, with resources to tackle these at root;

• Additional protection in law for retail workers, who are at the front line of enforcing age-restricted sales and restricted goods;

• A new stand alone offence for violence and abuse against retail staff.