Cambridge MP joins calls for tougher laws against shop worker violence
He's been hearing from some shop workers who've faced violence at work
Tougher laws are being called for in a bid to tackle violence and abuse against shop workers in Cambridgeshire.
The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) want stricter measures in place to help firms hit by these issues and other crimes like shoplifting.
It's part of USDAW's 'Respect for Shopworkers Week', which aims to work with bodies such as the police and government to better protect retail workers from violence and abuse.
Suzanna Austin is the development manager at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) for Cambridgeshire:
"Over the last few years, we've seen a rise in organised shoplifting which is chipping away at the foundation of small business owners financially and emotionally, not to mention the physical risks they and their staff face," she said.
"Many FSB members have been vocal for years campaigning for issues around retail crime to be given more priority when it comes to policing resources.
"Dissolution by perceived lack of action as well as additional resources taken up in reporting, many small businesses have stopped reporting incidents to the police because they're not confident the criminals will be found and successfully prosecuted."
MP heard shop worker "slapped in face" while doing her job
Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner has been visiting businesses in the city, where he heard some examples of the physical abuse some shop workers have faced.
He's also calling for new laws to be introduced by the government to tackle the problem.
"I was talking to one of the people at a shop in Cambridge who told me she was slapped in the face a few days earlier by a customer; no one should have to put up with that at work," he said.
"Some people are giving up the job because they don't want to put themselves in that position."
'Zero tolerance approach' taken by police
The Home Office said it has invested £17.6 billion into policing in England and Wales for 2023-24, to be used for areas such as increasing the number of visible patrols in neighbourhoods.
It also supports the National Police Chiefs' Council's Retail Crime Action Plan, which aims to make sure police prioritise quickly attending the scene of shoplifting crimes that involve violence against a shop worker.
“We have recently put aggravated sentences for assaults on shop workers into law, showing that these crimes will not be tolerated," a Home Office spokesperson said.
“The Policing Minister is clear that police should take a zero tolerance approach to all crime, especially where violence is used.
"The Retail Crime Action Plan will see police attending more crime scenes, patrolling badly affected areas and pursuing all reasonable lines of enquiry to catch more perpetrators.”
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said it is working with store security and businesses to target those guilty of violence against shop workers.