Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) USDAW and (b) the British Retail Consortium on taking steps to help tackle abuse and violence towards retail workers; and if she will make a statement.

The Government is clear that violence and abuse towards any worker is not acceptable.

The Home Office continues to work closely with retailers, trade associations and the police through the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG). The NRCSG, which I co-chair with the British Retail Consortium (BRC), brings together Government, the retail industry and law enforcement in our response to tackle retail crime – especially focussing on tackling violence and abuse against retail workers. USDAW is an active member of this group.

The Home Office has been working with members of the NRCSG, through a number of Task and Finish groups, to produce resources to help prevent violence and abuse in retail settings, including resources to support victims when these crimes do occur. The published resources are all available on the NRCSG webpage on the BRC website here: Violence and Abuse Against Shop Workers (brc.org.uk)