Violence against Shop Workers Rural Areas 2025-06-02
2025-06-02
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The question addresses the increase in violence against shop workers, particularly in rural communities where access to police support may be limited. The MP references a specific incident where an assistant manager was assaulted.
What steps her Department is taking to help tackle violence against shop workers in rural areas? Convenience stores are at the heart of our communities and provide employment for over 700 people in shops in North West Leicestershire, but workers often face abuse. When I visited one of my local shops recently, I was told that just a few days earlier the assistant manager had been punched in the face when he was just doing his job. Although the assault had been reported, the police had yet to pay a visit.
May I express my concern about the attack on my hon. Friend’s constituent? It is totally unacceptable. Under the retail crime action plan, the police made operational commitments to prioritising attendance where violence had been used. Some progress has been made, but much more needs to be done. I will ensure that every police force understands how seriously the Government take this offence. The additional 35 police officers and 21 police community support officers who will be in place as a result of our neighbourhood policing guarantee might go some way to helping with that.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP highlights that while the Crime and Policing Bill will make assaulting a shop worker an offence, branch staff in banks and building societies are not included in this classification despite facing similar threats and intimidation as retail staff.
What rationale can the Minister provide for excluding branch staff in banks and building societies from the protections given to retail staff, who work next to them? There were over 10,000 instances of abuse in branches last year.
A case has been made over several years for why retail workers should be covered by this specific offence. Work was done with the Co-op, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and many others to get the evidence together. If there is evidence from the financial sector and from banks, I want to see it, so I ask the hon. Gentleman to talk to the people with whom he was having conversations about this. I am very open to looking at this, but at the moment, we have drawn up the offence on the basis of the evidence available to us.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy