Labour would “go further” to crack down on rising retail crime and shopworker abuse, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at the Trade Unions Conference on Tuesday (10).
Addressing the delegates at annual Trades Union Congress in Brighton, Starmer expressed concern to the rising retail crime levels in the country.
Responding to a question from Usdaw on abuse of shop workers, Starmer siad, "On the question of offences against retail workers, this truly is shocking. Usdaw has a very important campaign on this, and [General Secretary] Paddy Lillis raises it with me pretty well every time we meet - and rightly so. It is not acceptable, and it can’t be acceptable in any circumstances. It is demoralising for the workforce, and that’s why I’m pleased we can introduce an offence to deal with it.
“But we have to go further than that. We can’t have the situation where shoplifters can walk in, shoplift and walk back out again and nobody can do anything about it. We’re going to change that, work with you. We have to take it seriously. I’m not wanting to hear again from those on the front line about the appalling attacks and insults that they are subjected to.
“It’s everywhere across the country; it is really hard for the workforce to take. You have rightly championed it as a cause. We join in that cause and we will do something about it, working with trade unions on such an important issue.”
Usdaw President Jane Jones asked, “I work in retail and increasing levels of violence, threats and abuse are a massive concern for me and my colleagues. Labour's welcome commitment to introduce a specific offence of assaulting a retail worker will send out a clear message that this Government takes retail crime seriously."
Speaking after the speech in the Brighton Centre, Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary said, “Keir’s address was an honest account of where our broken economy stands, after it was trashed by the Conservatives. He laid bare the hard work and tough choices that will have to be taken as we head towards the light at the end of the tunnel, to deliver new hope for the country."
