Making Assault on a Shopworker a Separate Criminal Offense
The action plan comes after extensive campaigning by UK retailers, who have been experiencing a rise in incidents of shoplifting and staff abuse.
Offenders could potentially face up to six months in prison and receive an unlimited fine. They may also be prohibited from entering the shop where the offense occurred, with the possibility of imprisonment for up to five years if they breach this ban.
“I am delivering a clear message to those criminals—whether they are organised criminal groups, repeat offenders, or opportunistic thieves—who believe they can steal from these local businesses or mistreat shop workers, that enough is enough. Our local stores are the heart of our communities, and they must be able to operate without the fear of crime or abuse,” Mr. Sunak stated in a release.
The government has recognized that the decision to implement a standalone offense followed “longstanding campaigning” by MPs and retailers.
“We are strengthening our strategy and reinforcing the zero-tolerance approach necessary to push back,” Mr. Cleverly added.
With the proposed changes, individuals causing grievous bodily harm with intent could face a life sentence. Repeat offenders may be required to wear an electronic tag as part of any community order.
Prior to the Criminal Justice Bill coming into effect, the government plans to collaborate with the police to trial community sentencing measures. Facial recognition technology will be deployed in congested areas to identify wanted offenders, including repeat shoplifters.
Long Overdue
The number of violent and abusive incidents in the retail sector notably increased between 2021—2022 and 2022—2023. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) revealed that out of 41,000 incidents, almost 9,000 resulted in injury.
“The victims are ordinary hardworking individuals—youths starting their first jobs, caregivers seeking part-time work, parents adjusting to childcare. This declaration sends a clear message that this abusive behavior will not be accepted. It will enhance the historically poor police response, as now police will have the necessary data to comprehend the scale of the issue and allocate adequate resources to tackle this problem,” stated BRC’s chief executive Helen Dickinson.
The delay has resulted in thousands of shop workers suffering needless physical and mental harm, according to USDAW general secretary Paddy Lillis. He cautioned that the proposed measures must align with the commitments made by the Labour Party.
This includes “13,000 additional uniformed officers, patrols on high streets, prohibiting repeat offenders, and eliminating the arbitrary £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters.”
In England and Wales, the £200 threshold was introduced in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. It stipulates that shoplifters stealing goods valued under £200 face a maximum sentence of six months and can plead guilty through the mail.
Under the plan, the police are instructed to prioritize responding to incidents of shoplifting involving violence against a shop worker. This applies to situations where security personnel have apprehended an offender or when intervention is necessary to secure evidence.
