В Шотландии за пять лет после введения закона о защите работников число краж в магазинах выросло более чем в два раза

The shopworkers’ trade union is making its plea on the fifth anniversary of the Scottish protection of workers’ law, which was part of an effort to fight back against retail crime. Although the legislation has been welcomed by the retail industry, shoplifting is still increasing. It is up from 20,557 incidents in Scotland during the pandemic to 53,269 last year, which included a 19% rise on the previous year. And despite the new law, the proportion of shoplifting crimes solved is down to 50.4%, from 74.6% in 2014 to 2015. There was, however, a slight improvement of 1.6% last year. Since the legislation became law, there have also been more than 11,000 recorded incidents of common assault against shopworkers in Scotland. But Usdaw said that, when used, the legislation has made a difference. One shopworker, named only as Rhianna, said: “A customer was refused alcohol because they were drunk and they smacked another customer over the head with a bottle of vodka, which also injured the shop worker. “The staff called the police and they got there within five minutes. Beforehand, it would have been ignored. So, to see that type of improvement is huge and it’s thanks to the protection of workers’ law.” Tony Doonan, Usdaw’s regional secretary for Scotland, said: “Scotland’s protection of retail workers’ law has made a difference, as Rhianna explains, and has been used to punish more than 11,000 offenders, but much more needs to be done in Scotland’s epidemic of retail crime. “We are continuing to work with retailers and Police Scotland to help ensure that the legislation is fully utilised. “However, we have been concerned by a lack of urgency to tackle retail crime from the Scottish government, who have overseen a record-breaking more than doubling in shoplifting, with a 19% increase last year.” The Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act) came into force on 24 August 2021. It provides a specific offence for assaulting, threatening or abusing any retail worker and a harsher sentence if they were enforcing a statutory age restriction, resulting in a fine with penalties escalating to a prison sentence. Usdaw general secretary Joanne Thomas added: “Scottish shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive. “The groundbreaking protection of workers’ legislation that came into force in Scotland was an important step forward and has inspired similar legislation in Westminster for England and Wales, and Stormont for Northern Ireland. “However, passing the legislation is not enough on its own and it must be backed up with investment in policing and a priority being given to retail crime, which is spiralling out of control. “Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job and too many shop workers suffer all too often. “We still need better co-ordination to ensure that retail employers, police and the courts work together to make stores safer and give staff the support and confidence they need.”