The Co-op, Tesco and Nisa have welcomed the new government’s commitment to tackling retail crime, as it was announced in the King’s Speech today that attacking or abusing a shopworker will be made a standalone offence.

The Co-op described the King’s Speech as a “crowning moment” for shop workers, marking a positive shift in the crackdown on repeat and prolific offenders amid unprecedented levels of retail crime.

The convenience retailer recorded more than 172,000 incidents of retail crime in the first half of 2024, and while the rate of increase has slowed, this figure still marks a 4% rise on last year’s levels of crime and a 42% jump since 2022.

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Co-op director of campaign and public affairs Paul Gerrard said: “Today’s news marks a seismic shift in the crackdown on retail crime, and will send a clear and powerful message to those who think it is acceptable to attack, assault or abuse shopworkers that, put quite simply, the law does not accept this behaviour and, it will now make it easier and much more straightforward for the authorities to investigate and prosecute – which means all shopworkers will be safer.”

Tesco CEO Ken Murphy, who also welcomed the early commitment from the government to protect shop workers, said: “Retail colleagues are the backbone of the everyday economy and they deserve to feel safe at work. It is right that the government, police and business come together to collectively send the strongest signal that these crimes will not be tolerated.”

Nisa MD Peter Batt agreed that it was an “encouraging” move, however said “it is crucial that independent retailers are included in these protections and are able to share in the additional police resourcing.”

According to the 2024 Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) Crime Report, 87% of colleagues in convenience stores faced verbal abuse, including around 76,000 violent incidents against retail staff.

ACS chief executive James Lowman added: “We strongly welcome the government’s commitment to take action on the assaults of retail workers, which local shops have been calling for over many years. We are also encouraged by the specific reference to tackling shoplifting, which is the blight of so many communities and funds the activity of gangs, addicts and dangerous criminals.”

As well as introducing a separate offence for assaulting a retail worker, the government announced that stronger measures to tackle low level shoplifting will also be put in place.

British Retail Consortium (BRC) chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “The government must ensure this bill protects all those in customer-facing roles, from delivery drivers to till staff, particularly as more risk violence or abuse as they enforce new age restrictions on tobacco products.

“We also welcome the bill’s introduction of stronger measures to tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. This is a timely intervention at a time when retail crime is costing retailers and their customers £3.3 billion a year.”