Key Summary
- PM promises stricter actions on shoplifting, harassment, and abuse of workers.
- Crime and Policing Bill to tackle crimes.
- Employment Rights Act for security, employee rights, etc.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his government has been acting tough against shoplifting by strengthening laws and better enforcement.
While addressing the annual delegate conference of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Monday (27), he said, “We’ve scrapped the ridiculous regulation where thieves stealing goods worth less than £200 would not be properly held to account. That was a shoplifters’ charter, and we’ve ended it.
“We’ve toughened up punishment too. We’re giving police stronger powers, making the abuse and assault of retail workers a specific crime and giving you the same protections as emergency workers.”
Through the Crime and Policing Bill, the Government is wants to crack down on retail crime, and creating a new offence of assaulting a retail worker, giving shop staff the same protections as emergency workers. The Bill is expected to conclude its final stages of passage through Parliament soon. The prime minister claimed there are some early signs of progress, with charges for shop theft up nearly 17 per cent, but said the scale of the crime is unacceptable.
“Shop theft is down - only slightly - but the tide could be turning. We are calling time on the free for all, standing firm, together, against the disgraceful crime of shop theft.”
The Government is also backing police forces with new, cutting edge technology to help them tackle retail crime more effectively.
“Working people, grafters – go to work, do the right thing, keep our high streets thriving, and yet too often they are abused or assaulted by people who think they can get away with it and just cheat the system. It’s disgraceful,” Starmer said.
Employment rights
The Government is getting on with delivering long overdue reforms to improve security at work and make work pay through the Employment Rights Act. Developed in close partnership with trade unions, the Act will benefit over half of all workers, particularly those in the most deprived areas.
In total, millions of workers will gain greater security and stronger rights, including two million employees benefiting from guaranteed hours, 6.3 million protected from unfair dismissal, and 1.3 million newly entitled to statutory sick pay.
Starmer said the Act would ensure a proper living wage and a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.
“That is what we have delivered, together. That is a Britain fair for all,” he said.
He assured that the bill will protect everyone, including healthcare workers via sick pay from day one, security from workplace harassment and abuse, allow parental leave, restrict the misuse of fire and
rehire, misuse of non-disclosure agreements, abolition of zero-hour contracts, establishment of a new Fair Work Agency and many more.
Starmer also paid tribute to his sister, who was a carer and had to work throughout the pandemic and did not get sick day leave pay.
He assured that the bill will protect everyone, including healthcare workers via sick pay from day one, security from workplace harassment and abuse, allow parental leave, restrict the misuse of fire and rehire, misuse of non-disclosure agreements, abolition of zero-hour contracts, establishment of a new Fair Work Agency and many more.
The prime minister also assured to facilitate investments in apprenticeships and technical education for the workforce, expanded child and family support via free school meals, breakfast clubs etc., freezing prescription charges, capping energy bills and many other expenses with the primary aim to support patients and healthcare professionals.
He worked to fight for the rights of the frontline workers including pharmacy and healthcare workers as they help keep the high streets running.
USDAW general secretary Joanne Thomas said, “We have campaigned along with many retail employers for substantial legislative measures to combat this growing problem and we are pleased that the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill has almost completed its passage through Parliament.”
She hoped that these new measures against shoplifting and abuse of sales persons will help give retail workers the respect they deserve.
