Government changes its mind after long campaign

Fleur Anderson with staff at the Co-op in Roehampton

Putney’s MP is celebrating after the government made a U-turn on sentencing guidelines for assaults on shopworkers.

Fleur Anderson has been part of a national campaign involving the Usdaw union, the Co-op and other national retailers to have tougher punishments for those found guilty of assaulting people working in the retail trade.

She was prompted to support the campaign after hearing of the experiences of shopworkers in Putney and Roehampton, who told her the level of aggression they routinely have to face has risen since the pandemic.

Earlier this year the government rejected proposals for an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill to make an attack on anyone providing a public service or duty, including shopworkers, an aggravated offence.

The change comes after statistics showed that 450 shopworkers are attacked every day in the UK, according to USDAW, the British Retail Consortium and the Association of Convenience Stores.

During Covid-19 Co-op stores alone saw a 76% increase in abuse and a 10% increase in violent attacks of which over half involve a weapon.

Earlier this year, a 21 year-old employee at Co-op’s Putney store said, “I have worked in retail for around four years and crime, violence, anti-social behaviour and abuse is the worst I have ever seen, and it keeps getting worse.”

Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, said, “I am absolutely delighted. We have been pushing for a change like this for such a long time, and it can’t come soon enough.

“I visited the Co-op in Roehampton only a couple of weeks ago to speak to staff about the horrendous abuse they receive on a daily basis. The stories were heart-breaking. The vast majority of people are polite, of course, but there is a significant minority ruining it for everyone.

“No one should have to fear for their own safety at work, least of all those who put themselves at risk and worked right through the pandemic to make sure we could get food and essentials. Abuse is not part of the job.

“It’s the Christmas period coming and shopworkers will be working hard to make sure we all have a merry Christmas. Let’s treat them with the kindness and respect they deserve.”

Fleur Anderson MP (left) with staff from the Co-op in Putney

The Store Manage of Roehampton Co-op said, ”This is amazing news and so good to know that our safety is important, not just our Co-op which it clearly is, but to MPs like Fleur and the Government. I am so proud of the part my colleagues and I played in this, but we are really thankful to everyone who supported this campaign.”

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary said, “After years of campaigning we are pleased to have secured movement from the Government and that they have finally accepted the need to legislate to protect shopworkers from violence at work. We are studying the amendment to the
Policing Bill and are keen to engage with the Government and politicians from all parties so that our members can be absolutely clear that the provisions in the Bill will deliver the protections they deserve.

“Usdaw members working in retail have for too long been in the firing line of appalling behaviour from a significant minority of customers. Nine in ten shopworkers have faced abuse in the last year, with far too many also suffering threats and violence. A protection of workers law is long overdue and this could be a step in the right direction.”

December 3, 2021