Co-op Food CEO welcomes Home Office's response to call for evidence on violence against shopworkers

07 July 2020

Jo Whitfield, CEO of Co-op Food has applauded the news that the Home Office has today (Tues 7 July) published a response to its call for evidence on violence against shopworkers, which closed on 28th June 2019.

She comments: “We welcome news that the Government has promised to act to protect shopworkers from the threat of violence and abuse. Supermarket and convenience stores colleagues have worked tirelessly to feed the nation at a time of crisis and we look forward to working closely with the Home Office to bring in measures to make shopworkers safer.”

The news follows figures published by the retailer last month which showed a rise in Co-op store crime of more than 140% this year* despite communities recognising the critical role played by key workers in society.

Numbers of violent incidents also hit record levels with 1,350 attacks having been reported by mid-June.

Recent examples of Coronavirus-related attacks up and down the country included: · Adeel Zafar, Co-op store manager in Halesowen: “A customer went ballistic at me when I asked him to respect social distancing measures – he started shouting verbal abuse, said he hoped I caught Coronavirus and that he would ‘sort me out’. It was a terrifying experience for me and the team to witness at an already difficult time.” · Claire Saunders, Co-op store manager in Romford: “I have faced physical and verbal abuse and have been physically assaulted. Recently a shop lifter threatened to spit in my face and give me Coronavirus. This is not part of our job and it is just not acceptable.” · David Brook, Co-op store manager in Shipley: “I have worked in retail for 16 years and have experienced and been the victim of many instances of both verbal and physical abuse while going about my job. I have seen many of my colleagues shouted at, sworn at, and even had glass bottles thrown at them over something as small as the refusal of an age-related sale. This is not part of our job. We should not have to put up with such abuse.”

As part of its Safer Colleagues, Safer Communities campaign, Co-op is building awareness and support for MP Alex Norris’ Assault on Shop Workers Bill which has seen its second reading in Parliament postponed. It states that because shop workers have responsibilities to uphold the law on age restricted products, they should be afforded greater protection in carrying out those public duties.

In its 2020 Crime Report***, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) found that a quarter of violent incidents resulted in injury, with a weapon used in almost 20% of occurrences. A knife was the most common used weapon (43%) with axes, hammers and syringes also used to attack or threaten shop workers.

In 2019, Co-op funded research**** into retail crime, with the hard-hitting findings reporting that shop workers were showing signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Co-op has committed a further £70M over the next three years in innovative technology to keep colleagues safer, including SmartWater Fog Cannons, the latest remote monitored iCCTV, body cameras and communication headsets for all frontline colleagues. ENDS Notes: Year to end of May 2020 Government call for evidence closed on 28 June 2019 ACS 2020 Crime Report: https://www.acs.org.uk/sites/default/files/acs_crime_report_2020_online_versionb_spreads.pdf **Report: “It’s not part of the job: violence and abuse towards shop workers” Dr. Emmeline Taylor, Director of Research, Department of Sociology at City, University of London