Mark 1333 | Assault of shop workers to be made specific criminal offence (UK) 21/Oct/2024 @Mark1333 | Uploaded October 2024 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
Assaulting a shop worker will be made a separate criminal offence in England and Wales as part of a government response to a wave of retail crime.

Earlier this year a report found violent and abusive incidents against shop workers rose by 50% in 2022-23.

Rishi Sunak said shops must be free from the threat of crime or abuse.

The government previously told campaigners for a new law, external it was not needed and would not be effective.

But the government says it is concerned about an increase in attacks. The prime minister said the new law was about "sending a message" to criminals stealing from local businesses or abusing shop workers that "enough is enough".

Helen Dickinson, chair of the British Retail Consortium, welcomed the announcement, saying "the voices of the three million people working in retail are finally being heard".

However, the charity Transform Justice argues that a specific offence will not reduce attacks on shop workers.

It cited evidence that a new offence of assaulting an emergency worker had not seen the number of attacks fall.

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