Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the speech by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, where she highlighted the government's achievements on retail crime and its continuing commitment to neighbourhood policing.
Home Secretary's conference address
In her address to delegates, Mahmood said: "Across the country, certain crimes, particularly those that tear at the fabric of a local community are still too high. Like shop theft, which though now falling, is still far too high."
She added: "To achieve fairness in every community, we need to do some things we know work, like neighbourhood policing. Which was hollowed out under the Conservative government but which we know cuts crime and deters criminality. I am proud to say that this government has put 3,800 more officers into neighbourhoods across the country."
Usdaw's response
Commenting after the speech, Joanne Thomas, Usdaw general secretary, said: "We very much welcome Labour's investment in neighbourhood policing, to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in communities and town centres."
Thomas highlighted ongoing concerns for retail workers: "Usdaw's latest interim survey results show the level of attacks on retail workers remains high. It is shocking that nearly three-quarters of those working in retail are regularly facing abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. This is a hugely important issue for our members, and they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough."
Government action on retail crime
Thomas noted that Labour's investment in more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas and neighbourhoods adds to the government's extensive action to tackle retail crime. She said the Crime and Policing Act will deliver a much-needed protection of shop workers' law, end the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, and introduce Criminal Behaviour Orders.
She added that there is also new funding to tackle the organised criminals responsible for the increase in shoplifting.
Usdaw continues to call on the government to urgently bring these new measures into force, to give the police the tools to deal with the problem and help protect retail workers.
