Local retail worker report facing appalling behaviour from customers
The recently announced Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Stratford, Seyi Agboola, has joined with the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner candidate, Sarah Feeney, to welcome the introduction of a specific criminal offence to protect retail workers.
The Prime Minister has now announced that assaulting a shop worker will be made a separate criminal offence on the back of a long-running campaign by the Labour and Co-Operative Parties with major retailers and even locally, with the Stratford Labour Party petitioning local residents.
Jacob Hill who works in Stratford-upon-Avon town centre commented:
“The behaviour my colleagues and I have faced is appalling. Ranging from customers shouting at us about self-service tills, a basket full of stock thrown at a colleague or having thousands of pounds of stock stolen regularly. These actions can make our jobs depressing and in some cases dangerous. While the news is a good first step, more does need to be done.”
Seyi Agboola, Labour Parliamentary candidate for Stratford on Avon Said “I am delighted that the campaign Labour has been fighting has achieved this next vital step. Just a few weeks ago I was in Alcester with our team where residents were telling me how their local store was only allowing a few shoppers in at a time due to shoplifting and the threats to staff.”
Sarah Feeney, Labour’s Police and Crime Commissioner candidate continued “Violence has reached astronomical proportions. 1,300 attacks per day on shop workers are being reported. This is not acceptable and will soon be an offence. However, the fight isn’t over until every shopworker can go to work with freedom from fear: we have to examine the detail of government proposals and keep up the pressure until this law is on the statute books and authorities have the resources they need to implement it.”
Seyi Agboola added “I want to thank everyone who told me their experiences in their community and stood with shopworkers on this vital campaign, by signing our petition. Every signature made a difference. We know you’ll be with us as our campaign continues to end violence against shopworkers once and for all.”