This inquiry will examine barriers to the reporting of incidents of violence or abuse and victim satisfaction with the action taken by police and employers after an incident is reported. It will also explore whether a new offence of aggravated assaults against retail workers is required, and the adequacy of action taken by the Government on this issue following its 2019 call for evidence.
As part of this inquiry, the Committee has also launched a public survey to give individuals who have experienced these incidents the opportunity to explain what happened after an incident was reported.
The survey closed at 12 noon on Friday 22 January 2021. We are very grateful for all the responses. Staff are now analysing the information to help the Committee's work.
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)
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)