MORE action is needed to tackle retail crime and end shopworker abuse, says Harlow general election candidate. 

Chris Vince – the Labour and Co-operative Candidate for Harlow – has today (28^th of October) called on Essex’s Police and Crime Commissioner to do more in tackling retail crime and ending shopworker abuse. 

According to retailer figures, levels of retail crime including shoplifting, assaults, and anti-social behaviour have soared over the last year. 

The Co-op Group alone has said there were about 1,000 cases a day in its stores across the country in the six months to June.  

The retailer also demonstrated many police forces have failed to prioritise retail crime, with on average 71% of serious crimes in retail stores not responded to.  

This follows reports of retail staff in shops being offered body cameras amid a rise in violent crime, and soaring rates of steal-to-order crime by organised gangs. 

Urging Essex’s Police and Crime Commissioner to take action in tackling retail crime, Chris Vince warns: 

“”Front-line store workers have seen physical assaults increase by nearly one-third (30%), and anti-social behaviour and verbal abuse by a fifth (20%). 

This level of criminality is replicated across the retail sector, and whilst retailers are going above and beyond to keep their colleagues and stores safe, they cannot do so alone.  

Urgent action by the Police to address these inadequate response rates is required in our area. 

Visiting Maunds Hatch today and talking to staff, as well as Harlow’s member pioneeer, it was clear that this is an issue facing retailers here in Harlow. No one should face abuse just for doing their job.  I look forward to discussing both with the PFCC and the local policing team how we can work together to tackle this rising issue. 

“The next Labour government will invest in policing, with over 13,000 more community police officers.  However, we will also focus on the causes of crime by working with schools and other educational providers to ensure young people understand the consequences of crime but also how to avoid becoming involved in organised crime”. 

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The full letter reads: 

Dear Mr Hirst, 

Retailers such as those across the co-operative movement provide an essential service to the public, and the security of their stores and staff in supporting the communities they serve should be a priority.  

However, the issue of persistent and prolific offenders targeting our high streets and retailers is having a profound impact and one which requires an urgent response.  

Reporting by the Co-operative Group has shown that there has been a 35% increase year-on-year in retail crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, with more than 175,000 incidents recorded in the first six months of this year – almost 1,000 incidents every day.  

As the Labour and Co-operative Parliamentary Candidate in Harlow, I have visited the Cooperative Store in Maunds Hatch in addition to speaking with other retail workers and representatives of trade unions. 

Not only does this have a damaging impact on our high streets and neighbourhoods, but in particular on the retail staff who are too often subjected to this behaviour.  

The Co-operative Group also reported that year-on-year, front-line store workers have seen physical assaults increase by nearly one-third (30%), and anti-social behaviour and verbal abuse by a fifth (20%). 

However, despite these figures freedom of information requests have shown on average that across the UK 71% of serious retail crimes are not responded to by the Police, which has led to rampant levels of out-of-control crime with local organised criminal gangs among the main drivers of offending.  

This level of criminality is replicated across the retail sector, and whilst retailers are going above and beyond to keep their colleagues and stores safe, they cannot do so alone.  

Urgent action by the Police to address these inadequate response rates is required in our area. 

To this end, can you please outline the steps you will take as Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to ensure our forces have the resources and support they need to increase response rates in our region and ensure organised crime on our high streets and in our communities is treated as a matter of priority?  

Would you meet with myself and representatives of the retail sector in Harlow to ensure greater co-ordination and progress can be made in tackling this issue? 

Kind regards, 

Chris Vince 

Parliamentary Candidate, Harlow and the villages