Coalition Forms Amidst Rejection of Previous Protective Legislation Calls

  • Retail trade bodies form coalition to call for government inquiry on retail violence
  • Government rejected previous calls to protect shopworkers
  • Record £1.2bn spent on crime prevention in 2019 despite rising incidents of violence and abuse
  • Over 400 incidents daily, according to BRC’s latest crime survey
  • 50,000 violent incidents reported in local shops in ACS’s 2020 study
  • Incidents include verbal and physical assault during shoplifting challenges, age-restricted sales enforcement, and COVID-19 safety measures implementation
  • More than 50 cross-party MPs signed BRC shopworkers’ protection pledge
  • Helen Dickinson calls for Home Affairs Committee investigation into the issue

Several retail trade bodies, including the British Retail Consortium, Association of Convenience Stores, Usdaw, and National Federation of Retail Newsagents, have formed a coalition to urge the government to launch an inquiry on retail violence. The call comes after the government rejected previous requests to protect shopworkers, such as Usdaw’s proposal for new protective legislation following a petition with 63,000 signatures. Despite retailers spending a record £1.2bn on crime prevention in 2019, incidents of violence and abuse continue to rise, with over 400 daily occurrences reported by the BRC’s latest crime survey. The ACS’s 2020 study revealed over 50,000 violent incidents in local shops. The retail bodies highlighted incidents involving verbal and physical assault during shoplifting challenges, age-restricted sales enforcement, and COVID-19 safety measure implementation. Over 50 cross-party MPs have signed the BRC’s shopworkers’ protection pledge to tackle retail crime and support legislation for better worker protection. Helen Dickinson, BRC CEO, questioned, ‘How many more shopworkers must be assaulted before the government acts?’ as existing laws fail to protect workers, and perpetrators often evade accountability.

Factuality Level: 10
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about the formation of a coalition by several retail trade bodies and their concerns regarding increasing violence against shopworkers. It cites relevant statistics and quotes from key figures in the industry. The article is not sensationalist or misleading, and does not include any personal opinions presented as facts.
Noise Level: 2
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about a coalition of retail trade bodies calling for an inquiry on retail violence and includes statistics on the rise of incidents. It also mentions the government’s response to previous calls for protection legislation. The article stays on topic and supports its claims with evidence from surveys.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Retail sector
Financial Rating Justification: This article discusses concerns from retail trade bodies regarding violence and abuse against shopworkers, which could impact the retail sector’s reputation and potentially affect consumer behavior and sales. It also mentions that retailers spent £1.2bn on crime prevention in 2019, indicating financial implications for the industry.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article, but the article discusses a growing problem of violence and abuse against retail workers. The impact rating is considered minor as it does not involve significant deaths, injuries, or economic damage.

Reported publicly: www.retailsector.co.uk