'Protect our staff': UK retail chiefs' plea after Halfords worker suffers stroke in 'appalling' attack by shoplifters
2 October 2023, 07:43 | Updated: 2 October 2023, 08:44
CCTV shows Marty Scott attacked in Halfords before having a stroke
UK retail bosses want better protection for workers from shoplifters who are "emptying stores" with little to no consequence.
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The heads of close to 90 retail giants - which include high street mainstays Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Boots - have written to the government demanding action following soaring levels of retail crime.
It comes after a Halfords worker suffered a stroke after being kicked in the head by two shoplifters.
Marty Scott, 57, was left unable to work after being kicked in the head and chest by two thugs at the shop in Stockton, County Durham, with lawyers adding he placed "himself and potentially others at risk".
He was challenging shoplifters in the branch when he was attacked. His family say he’s been let down by the store and the CPS after the case against the shoplifters was dropped, despite it being on CCTV.
Bosses blame him for the injuries he suffered, saying his action was ‘against store policy’.
The firm's lawyers said: “It is company policy not to attempt to retrieve stock or aggravate the situation and the claimant went directly against this policy, placing himself and potentially others at risk.”
Retail bosses say violent criminals are “emptying stores”, leaving shop staff in danger thanks to inadequate legal protections.
The group are pleading for the creation of a new UK-wide legislation which would make assaulting or abusing a retail worker an aggravated offence.
It comes as the head of the Co-op group claimed his business had lost £33 million to criminals in the first half of 2023.
A law that already exists in Scotland, the new laws would carry a far tougher sentence than current legislation.
The would also require police to record all incidents of shoplifting and retail crime, increasing the provision of police resources to retail sites.
“The police consistently tell us that a lack of data about these offences means they have no visibility about the nature or scale of the issue,” reads letter says.
The 88 retail bosses have now requested a meeting with the home secretary, Suella Braverman, to discuss the issue.
It followed a fruitful meeting with Chris Philp, the minister for crime, who promises to take action and develop a stratergy to tackle the crimewave, which is plaguing highstreets amid a cost of living crisis.
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“It is vital that action is taken before the scourge of retail crime gets any worse. We are seeing organised gangs threatening staff with weapons and emptying stores," said Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the BRC, speaking with The Observer.
"We are seeing violence against colleagues who are doing their job and asking for age verification.
"We are seeing a torrent of abuse aimed at hardworking shop staff. It’s simply unacceptable – no one should have to go to work fearing for their safety.
She added: "We need government to stand with the millions of retail workers who kept us safe and fed during the pandemic – and support them, as those workers supported us.”
It follows police data which shows the extent to which major high street retailers are let down by the force.
According to the figures, forces failed to respond to 73% of serious retail crimes that were reported to police.
Meanwhile, 44% of retailers within the BRC who took part in the annual crime survey rated the police's own response to reports as “poor” or “very poor”.
