Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
First Report - Violence and abuse towards retail workers
Home Affairs Committee
HC 141
Published 29 June 2021
Government response
First Special Report - Violence and abuse towards retail workers: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report · published 9 Sep 2021
Recommendations & Conclusions
3
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 25
Hate-motivated abuse against shopworkers needs serious police attention and dedicated survey data.
Conclusion
Where shopworkers are confronted by hate-motivated abuse in the course of their employment this should be taken seriously by employers and reported to the police. It is vital that the police, in dealing with these incidents, manage them with sensitivity …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated that the 2020/21 Commercial Victimisation Survey, currently underway with results due March 2022, already includes questions on hate-related violence as recommended, and an Expert Reference Group will review its coverage in Spring 2022.
Home Office
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5
Conclusion
Accepted
Unconscionable increase in violence and abuse against frontline retail workers during Covid-19 pandemic.
Conclusion
It is unconscionable that violence and abuse towards retail workers has further increased during the Covid-19 pandemic. These are individuals who have been working on the frontline and have put their lives at risk to ensure that the public could …
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Government Response Summary
The government response details existing measures, including interim sentencing guidance for Covid-19 related assaults and revised guidelines with aggravating factors, published safer working guidance, and ongoing collaboration between BEIS/DEFRA and retailers to ensure Covid-19 related safety.
Home Office
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6
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 37
Revised spitting/coughing sentencing guidance excludes threats and was introduced too late.
Conclusion
We welcome the revised guidance from the Sentencing Council which makes the despicable act of deliberate spitting or coughing an aggravating factor for common assault. However, we note that incidents of offenders threatening to spit or cough would not be …
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Government Response Summary
The government clarifies that the revised common assault guideline includes a new high-culpability factor for 'intention to cause fear of serious harm, including disease transmission', which addresses threats to spit or cough related to Covid-19.
Home Office
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21
Recommendation
Accepted
Actively encourage Safer Streets Fund bids for shop worker safety, setting this as a future priority.
Recommendation
We welcome the additional money available to local authorities and Police and Crime Commissioners to spend on preventative measures via the Safer Streets Fund. However, we note that none of the funding rounds have placed any emphasis on preventative measures …
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Government Response Summary
The government stated that it has already made clear the Safer Streets Fund welcomes bids for measures improving shopworker safety, with the second round expanded to include commercial areas, and the third round (Autumn 2021) will have a broader focus on reducing violence.
Home Office
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30
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 131
Government's response to drug-related retail crime lacks urgency and timely national programme rollout.
Conclusion
The Government has acknowledged that drugs play a significant role in a large number of crimes and with prolific offending in particular. Yet, one year on from the Government’s response to the call for evidence on violence and abuse toward …
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Government Response Summary
The government details its commitment to tackling drug-driven crime, referencing Dame Carol Black's review and ongoing work including £80m investment in drug treatment and the expansion of Project ADDER to eight additional sites.
Home Office
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38
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 164
New statutory offence would improve data, reporting, and communicate seriousness of retail worker abuse.
Conclusion
The patchwork of existing offences for prosecuting incidents of violence and abuse against individuals is not effective enough to address the escalating scale and nature of offences committed in the retail setting. Introducing a new statutory offence would bring the …
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Government Response Summary
The government highlights existing measures by the Sentencing Council, including interim guidance on Covid-19 related assaults from April 2020 and revised assault sentencing guidelines from May 2021, which address aggravating factors for common assault.
Home Office
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