England and Wales will create a separate criminal offence for assaulting a shop worker in response to a wave of retail crime, according to government officials. Violent and abusive incidents towards retail workers rose by 50% in 2022-23. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak said shops must be free from the threat of crime or abuse. The government’s concern is for an increase in attacks. The prime minister further stated that the legislation is about “sending a message” to criminals stealing from local businesses or abusing shop workers that “enough is enough”. The new offence will not routinely result in a prison sentence and will carry a maximum six-month term. Individuals who violate the new legislation may also receive an unlimited fine and be banned from the shop where the assault occurred. Serial offenders could be forced to wear tags so their movements can be tracked.
The announcement comes as labour’s shadow chancellor Yvette Cooper campaigns in Tees Valley to promote the party’s policies to revive high streets. Labour has already proposed creating the specific offence of assault against shop workers and would repeal a rule that makes it less likely police will investigate the theft of goods under the value of £200 because courts deal with them less severely. However, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael criticised the move, stating that, as the majority of shoplifting cases go unsolved, “their new gimmicks won’t change” anything.
Helen Dickinson, chair of the British Retail Consortium, welcomed the announcement, stating that “the voices of the three million people working in retail are finally being heard.” Conversely, the charity Transform Justice argued that a specific offence would not reduce attacks on shop workers. It cited evidence that creating the new offence of assaulting an emergency worker had not seen the number of attacks reduce. Police have been instructed to review additional CCTV images against police databases, and £50 million will be spent on facial recognition technology, with dedicated facial recognition units set up in high streets to catch perpetrators and prevent shoplifting. In more severe cases, offenders found guilty of grievous bodily harm will face jail sentences. The government will introduce the new offence in its Criminal Justice Bill, currently under parliamentary consideration.
While Scotland introduced legislation making assault or abuse of shop workers a specific offence in 2021, the new legislation does not guarantee that those convicted of assaulting shop workers will serve prison sentences. The Sentencing Bill, which is currently under parliamentary consideration, would suspend sentences of 12 months or less and ensure they are served in the community. However, in exceptional cases, a prison sentence could be imposed. The government has vowed to make changes to free up prison space in response to increased overcrowding as a result of tougher sentences and court backlogs. If you are affected by the issues raised in the story, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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