Last week deeply concerning figures came to light laying bare the scale of the crisis our retail workers are facing every single day. A 20% rise in shoplifting in just one year is not just a statistic – it’s a reflection of the fear, anxiety and danger faced by staff in our shops, supermarkets and high streets.
We’ve heard horrendous stories of shop-workers facing violence for confronting shoplifters – no one should be in fear at work and offenders must be held to account.
As the Chair of the Co-op Party, I have long campaigned against the rising tide of abuse, threats, and violence retail workers face. Alongside the retail worker union USDAW, I’m proud of the work we have done to stand shoulder to shoulder with retail workers, protect those who keep our high-street going, and shine a light on this epidemic.
I’m glad we now have a Government taking decisive steps to tackle this – from scrapping the shameful £200 shoplifting threshold to backing frontline officers and bringing in Respect Orders for tougher penalties. We have already seen the difference in giving more powers and resource to the police, especially across Greater Manchester with arrests doubling and the number of shoplifters in court rising sixfold.
But it’s the joint work – between unions, businesses, the police and government – that gives me real hope. Protecting shopworkers shouldn’t be controversial; it’s about respect, safety, and standing up for those who serve our communities.
The joint Co-op Party and USDAW campaign has always been about more than stats – it’s about people. And with Labour in government, we’re finally putting people first and will drive down this statistic.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 