Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's speech to Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, in which she highlighted progress on shop theft and the Government's continuing commitment to neighbourhood policing.
In her address to delegates, Mahmood said crimes that "tear at the fabric of a local community" remained too high, pointing to shop theft.
"Like shop theft, which though now falling, is still far too high. To achieve fairness in every community, we need to do some things we know work, like neighbourhood policing. Which was hollowed out under the Conservative government but which we know cuts crime and deters criminality. I am proud to say that this Government has put 3,800 more officers into neighbourhoods across the country."
Thomas: 'Enough is enough'
Usdaw general secretary Joanne Thomas said the union's latest survey showed attacks on retail workers remained high.
"We very much welcome Labour's investment in neighbourhood policing, to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in communities and town centres. It is shocking that nearly three-quarters of those working in retail are regularly facing abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. This is a hugely important issue for our members, and they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough."
Thomas said more uniformed patrols in shopping areas added to wider action on retail crime. The Crime and Policing Act will create a specific offence of assaulting a shop worker, end the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifting and introduce new Criminal Behaviour Orders, alongside new funding to tackle the organised gangs behind the rise in shop theft.
"We continue to call on the Government to urgently bring these new measures into force, to give the police the tools to deal with the problem and help protect retail workers."
Survey of nearly 9,000 shop workers
Usdaw's survey of 8,980 retail staff found that in 2025, 78% had been verbally abused, 54% threatened and 11% assaulted - all up on 2019, when the figures were 68%, 43% and 5%. The union's Freedom from Fear campaign works to prevent violence, threats and abuse against shop workers.
