Home Secretary Yvette Cooper today (24) announced that she will bring in a raft of "respect orders" to crack down on anti-social behaviour and rise in shoplifting.
Speaking at the Labour conference in Liverpool, Cooper acknowledged that rising town centre and street crime had been “corroding the fabric of our communities”, vowing that she would “put neighbourhood police back in our communities and back on the beat”.
"You don't get social justice unless you have justice," she explained during her speech, outlining Labour's plans for "safer streets".
Announcing plans for an additional 13,000 police officers and PCSOs along with guaranteed local patrols, Cooper also floated so-called "respect orders" for persistent offenders.
Legislation will be brought forward next year to introduce "respect orders", which are designed to ban persistent antisocial offenders from town centres.
She said, “And yes, after years of Co-op and Usdaw campaigning, this Labour Government will introduce a new law on assaults on shop workers because everyone has the right to work in freedom from fear."
Remarking on on the recent UK violence that also saw attacks on several convenience stores, Cooper said, "Don’t tell me that was about protest, don’t tell me that about it was arson, it was racism, it was thuggery, it was crime. That’s not who we are, that’s not what Britain is about."
Responding to the speech, Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said, “Yvette fully understands the impact of an epidemic of retail crime that is blighting our shops and putting fear into the hearts of shopworkers. This Home Secretary has long promised to act to protect retail staff and we were delighted to see the legislation announced in the King’s Speech.
“We now look forward to the publication of the Crime and Policing Bill and the inclusion of a much-needed protection of shop workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; and funding more uniformed officers patrolling shopping areas along with town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.
“No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but too many retail workers are. It is shocking that nearly a fifth of our members working in retail are being assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community. They provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law.”
