MP Helen Jones has demonstrated her support for ‘Respect for Shopworkers Week’ when she visited the Co-op store in Capesthorne Road, Warrington.
Usdaw’s annual respect week, November 12-18, is when the union’s reps and members organise awareness events as part of the Freedom from Fear Campaign, which seeks to prevent verbal abuse, threats and violent attacks at work.
During her visit the MP discussed local community safety issues with store staff and heard about the Co-op’s operational programme to help tackle crime.
As part of its commitment to colleague safety and community well-being, the Co-op is backing the shopworkers’ union Usdaw’s campaign and the Respect for Shopworkers week.
The MP said: “Shockingly, the latest statistics show that the incidents of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers remains a major problem.
“Shop workers face an unprecedented level of treat from violent incidents as each day across the UK six are threatened with a knife and two with a gun. Six in 10 shopworkers experienced verbal abuse this year and 230 have been assaulted every day.
“Products can be replaced and stores repaired, but violent crime in shops often has a shocking, and lasting, impact on those working at the frontline. That is why I am backing this important initiative as we must all do everything we can to help reduce these attacks.
“The government needs to take action by ensuring stiffer penalties for those who assault shopworkers.”
Paul Gerrard, Director of Campaigns at the Co-op, said: “Retail crime is often considered to be victimless as people think it only involves a faceless business losing stock or money. However, it is not the shop that is left bruised, bleeding or traumatised. This type of crime has nothing to do with profit and everything to do with people.
“In the months ahead, we’ll be looking to work with local community groups and other neighbourhood leaders who are engaged in tackling the root causes of crime, to see if we can identify mutual solutions to shared concerns.”
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary said “We launched our Freedom from Fear campaign in the face of growing concerns amongst retail staff about violence, threats and abuse. The campaign works with employers to promote respect and make shops safer for staff and customers alike. Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected.
“While there are many factors behind retail crime, severe cuts in police funding and the loss of over 20,000 police officers does not help. Police resources are so stretched we now have some chief constables reporting that their officers can no longer attend theft from shops incidents and they are asking shopworkers to detain shoplifters, which would put our members in an unacceptably dangerous situation.
““The government could act immediately by accepting a protection of shopworkers amendment to their Offensive Weapons Bill.”
