Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of recorded crime against retailer workers was associated with age-related sales in the last 12 months.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on crime affecting retail premises as part of the Commercial Victimisation survey. The most recent publication covers the year 2022 and estimated that in 2022, 4% of premises which experienced violent incidents stated that asking for ID for age restricted products was one of the most common reasons for the violent crime.

The Government is clear that violent and abusive behaviour towards any public-facing worker is never acceptable. We take this issue very seriously and recognise the implications these incidents can have on businesses as well as the victims.