Ask your MP to back the Retail Workers amendment

Ask your MP to back the Retail workers amendment

In the first six months of 2023, Co-op stores reported around 1,000 incidents a day of retail crime. That represents an increase of 35% on the previous year. The vast majority of incidents of serious retail crime were not responded to by police, even in cases where shopworkers were seriously assaulted.

We need urgent action to keep retail colleagues and communities safe. That's why we're calling on MPs to support an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that would make it a specific offence to assault a shopworker.

We ask shopworkers to enforce the law, restricting the sale of dangerous items like acid, alcohol and knives. It's enforcing these restrictions that often prove the flashpoint for violence and abuse. If Parliament asks shopworkers to enforce the law, they should provide them with necessary protections under the law.

Ask your MP now if they will stand with our shopworkers and support the Retail Workers amendment.

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Promoted by Joe Fortune on behalf of the Co-operative Party, both at Unit 13, 83 Crampton Street, London, SE17 3BQ, United Kingdom. Co-operative Party Limited is a registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Registered no. 30027R

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To: your.mp@parliament.uk

Dear MP Name MP,
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Retail Crime is a blight on our high streets which has a severe cost not only on the retailers who are subject to it, but also shop workers who are all too often on the frontline of this crisis. Over recent months and years levels of retail crime have soared, and alongside the increased instances of shop theft it is the violence, threats and abuse directed towards retail staff which is most damaging. In 2023, Co-op Group stores reported around 1,000 incidents a day of retail crime. That represents an increase of 44% on the previous year. This is of particular concern to me as a member of the Co-op Group. Too often, instances of theft and retail crime act as trigger points for violence directed towards retail staff. The British Retail Consortium estimated there were 850 assaults on shop staff a day in 2021-22. In the Co-op Group, there has been more than a 35% increase in violence and abuse in 2023. Sadly, this shocking increase has not been met with the response from Government to adequately tackle the problem and protect retail workers, and urgent action is needed. That’s why, I’m asking you to support changes proposed to the Criminal Justice Bill that will bring forward the required action to support retail workers. Whilst previous legislative changes such as those in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act have been brought forward but ultimately proved insufficient, the proposed New Clause 41 to the Criminal Justice Bill will introduce a standalone offence for assaults on retail workers which mirrors that already introduced in Scotland where it is clear it is making a difference for shopworkers, shops and the communities both serve. By making assault on a retail worker a specific criminal offence that would carry a sentence of 12 months or a fine of up to £10,000, this amendment will properly and sustainably address the scourge of retail crime where Government inaction has so far failed. I, therefore, ask you to support this amendment at the Bill’s Report Stage, so that we can properly ensure those workers in stores who for too long have been forced to endure violence, threats and abuse as they go about their work can have the adequate protection the desperately need. I would be grateful for a response to understand whether you intend to support the amendment and protect shopworkers.
Yours sincerely,

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