Birmingham MP condemns retail violence after Co-op attack

A Birmingham MP has condemned retail violence following an attack against Central England Co-op workers in Erdington.  

Local police are currently investigating the incident after employees were left shaken and left with minor injuries.  

MP for the Erdington area, Jack Dromey, made a public statement after a group of shoplifters attacked the staff at the Centrel England Co-op branch, which resulted in one employee getting punched in the face.  

Dromer said he was “shocked” by the latest assault on the “innocent shopworkers going about their job.” 

He said: “I am shocked by the assault on three Erdington shopworkers going about their job serving the public. 

READ MORE: Central England Co-op partners with Too Good To Go to tackle food wastage

“An unmistakable message needs to be sent that those who assault shopworkers will face tougher sentences.” 

The attack comes after several trade organisations and retailers have called on the government for stronger laws to tackle violence against retail workers.  

Last month, 100 of the biggest retailers wrote to the Prime Minister to tackle escalating violence and abuse against retail workers. 

Aldi, Asda and Sainsbury’s are amongst the 100 retailers calling on the government to support an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.  

According to recent research, incidents of assaults against retail workers have increased by 35 per cent, with threats increasing by 16 per cent and verbal abuse by 167 per cent over the last 12 months.  

The symbol group has also recorded 312 crimes directly related to Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.  

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