Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

MP speaks out after ‘brutal attack’ on Shepshed shop worker

Jane Hunt, MP for Loughborough, has condemned a ‘brutal attack’ attack last week on a shop worker in Shepshed, Leicestershire.

The offender pushed and hit in the head of a shop worker at Central England Co-op’s Anson Road Food Store as the victim asked for an ID before selling an energy drink.


The attacker then brandished a wrench and shouted verbal threats at the staff before leaving the store with a drink, but without paying.

“I was very sorry to hear of the incident at Central England Co-op in Shepshed. Any abuse or violence directed at store staff is completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any circumstances. That is why I support the Co-op’s zero tolerance approach against this type of abhorrent behavior,” Hunt said.

“Staff in stores continue to operate despite extremely challenging circumstances and deserve nothing but praise. My best wishes go out to the store member involved and hope that the preparator is quickly brought to justice.”

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said enquiries are ongoing into the incident, including CCTV checks.

The victim, who is in his 30s, suffered minor injuries in the attack happened at around 11.25am on 22 July.

The store manager said the staff is doing well and hopes to return to work soon.

“He is currently at home resting, with the hope of returning next week. He will also be given the necessary help he needs on his return,” Ben Birdsall, operations manager for Anson Road Food Store said.

“I would just like to thank everybody that helped us during this difficult time. The support network has been fantastic.”

Birdsall, in a statement on Monday (27 July), said he and his staff will not tolerate any kind of abuse, threat or attack and they will continue to go above and beyond to support their local community.

“We will not let any would-be criminals stop us providing vital support to our communities,” he said.

“Abuse cannot and will not be tolerated. These colleagues are at the heart of our communities and are mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. They come to work because they enjoy the job and they do not deserve to feel threatened or abused on a daily basis.”

“I'm working hard with the team to make sure the store is a safe, calm and comfortable environment for community.”

The incident at Shepshed comes just days after a staff was verbally abused, physically attacked and then robbed while he lay injured on the floor in an attack at the Markfield Food Store of the retailer.

Central England Co-op is currently campaigning for legislative protection for shop workers who have responsibilities to uphold the law on age restricted products.

MP Alex Norris’ ‘Assault on Shop Workers Bill’ which seeks to guarantee such protection has now seen its second reading in Parliament postponed until September.

The retailer said it has seen assaults jump by 100 per cent, threats and intimidation by 25 per cent and verbal abuse by 175 per cent since the start of the year, and since the lockdown was introduced, there have been over 100 incidents related directly to people using COVID-19 as a threat.

More for you

Stakeholders give cautious welcome to Reeves' budget

(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

(Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Stakeholders give cautious welcome to Reeves' budget

Retail industry stakeholders are giving a mixed response to Chancellor Rachel Reeves's first budget unveiled today (30).

Reacting to the different provisions in the budget, Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of retail industry charity Retail Trust said, “Retail is the largest employer outside of the public sector so a healthy and happy retail workforce is important for our industry and for the country’s communities and high streets and its GDP.

Keep ReadingShow less

Retail industry reacts to budget with scepticism, general dismay

Immediate reaction to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s first budget has not been positive.

Our regular columnist, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), Andrew Goodacre, condemned the budget out of hand, calling it, “Without doubt the worst for independent retailers I have seen in my time representing the sector. The government's actions today show complete disregard for the thousands of hard-working shop owners who form the backbone of our high streets.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Independent retailers face rough ride despite some gain in Budget 2024, says Fed

iStock image

iStock image

Independent retailers face rough ride despite some gain in Budget 2024, says Fed

Independent retailers have today (30) welcomed the government’s pledge to get tougher on retail crime, with an end to the £200 rule, more training for police and retailers and a clampdown on organised crime gangs announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first budget.

However, inflation busting rises to the minimum wage and a 1.2 per cent increase to 15 per cent in employers’ national insurance contributions means that hard-pressed independent retailers face a rough year ahead.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bira slams government for delivering 'worst Budget for independent retailers'

Bira slams government for delivering 'worst Budget for independent retailers'

Independent retailers body British Independent Retailers Association has condemned today's Budget as the most damaging for independent retailers in recent memory, with a triple blow of doubled business rates, increased National Insurance, and higher minimum wage costs threatening widespread high street closures.

Bira, representing over 6,000 independent retailers across the UK, reports the reduction in business rates relief from 75 per cent to 40 per cent (capped at £110k) from April 2025 will more than double costs for many retailers.

This comes alongside employer National Insurance contributions rising from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent, with the earnings threshold slashed from £9,100 to £5,000, and the minimum wage increasing to £12.21 per hour for over-21s.

Keep ReadingShow less
Budget 2024: Local shops to face significant new pressure

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Budget 2024: Local shops to face significant new pressure

Local shops will face significant new pressures as a result of today’s Budget, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has warned.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget's impact will be felt unevenly across the UK’s 50,000 convenience stores, with some measures such as business rate relief and the increased employment allowance mitigating costs for smaller independent stores, while providing no help for chains and larger independent businesses.

Keep ReadingShow less