Committees

Violence and abuse towards retail workers

Inquiry

Following the announcement that a General Election will be held on 4 July, Select Committees will be unable to meet from 24 May and will cease to exist from 30 May until after the General Election. This work has therefore closed

The Committee carried out an inquiry into violence and abuse towards retail workers in 2021. It found that there had been a shocking rise in attacks on retail workers since 2016 and there was a failure for the police to attend these incidents, and a lack of follow-up. The Committee made several recommendations, including that the Government should consult on the scope of a new standalone offence for violence towards retail workers.

The Committee are conducting follow up work to this inquiry and are holding an oral evidence session on 17 April 2024, to take evidence on the growing rise in violence and abuse towards retail workers since 2021. The Committee will consider how equipped retailers are to deal with this and what support they receive from the police. The Committee will also take evidence on what progress has been made on the recommendations from the Committee that were accepted by Government and hear an initial response to the Retail Crime Action Plan, which launched in October 2023.

Reports, special reports and government responses

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First Report - Violence and abuse towards retail workers
Inquiry Violence and abuse towards retail workers
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HC 141
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Response to this report
First Special Report - Violence and abuse towards retail workers: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report
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HC 669
Special Report
First Special Report - Violence and abuse towards retail workers: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report
Inquiry Violence and abuse towards retail workers
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238KB
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HC 669
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Correspondence

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Letter from the Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention regarding violence and abuse towards retail workers 29.10.24
Inquiry Violence and abuse towards retail workers
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Correspondence
Letter to the Home Secretary regarding follow-up work in relation to the Violence and abuse towards retail workers inquiry, dated 22 May 2024
Inquiry Violence and abuse towards retail workers
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Correspondence
Letter to the Home Secretary on violence and abuse towards retail workers, dated 7 November 2022
Inquiry Violence and abuse towards retail workers
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Correspondence

Oral evidence transcripts

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17 April 2024
Inquiry Violence and abuse towards retail workers
Witnesses Joanne Cairns (Head of Research and Policy at Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers), Edward Woodall (Government Relations Director at Association of Convenience Stores), Paul Gerrard (Campaigns, Public Affairs and Board Secretariat Director at The Co-op), Lyndsey Cambridge (Head of Engagement at Federation of Wholesale Distributors), Superintendent Patrick Holdaway (Lead for the National Business Crime Centre at City of London Police), Chief Superintendent Alex Goss (Retail Crime Lead at National Police Chiefs' Council), and Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman (Acquisitive Crime Lead at National Police Chiefs' Council)
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Oral Evidence
28 April 2021
Inquiry Violence and abuse towards retail workers
Witnesses Amanda Blakeman (Deputy Chief Constable at Gwent Police), Ian Dyson QPM (Commissioner at City of London Police), Patrick Holdaway (Chief Inspector at Hampshire Constabulary), and David Jamieson (Commissioner at West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner)
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Oral Evidence
14 April 2021
Inquiry Violence and abuse towards retail workers
Witnesses Joanne Cairns (Head of Research and Economics at Union of Shop Distributive and Allies Workers (USDAW)), James Lowman (Chief Executive at ACS (The Association of Convenience Stores)), Tom Ironside (Director, Business and Regulation at British Retail Consortium), Iona Blake (Security and Incident Manager at Boots UK), and Paul Gerrard (Campaigns and Public Affairs Manager at The Co-op)
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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National Police Chiefs' Council (VTR0042)
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Co-op Group (VTR0043)
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Federation of Wholesale Distributors (VTR0044)
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Other publications

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