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On 27 August, Minister for Social Partnership in the Welsh Government, Jack Sargeant MS, and North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin visited Boots on Bangor High Street to learn more about measures underway to ensure retail staff are protected from verbal and physical abuse. The visit took place a year following the launch of the Welsh Government’s Retail Action Plan which includes steps to tackle abuse of shopworkers.
According to the latest figures from the BRC’s Crime Survey 2024, over 475,000 incidents of violence and abuse were made against retail workers during 2022-23 across the UK. This amounted to 1,300 incidents a day, which was an increase from more than 850 a day in 2021-22 and is approaching three times the pre-pandemic figure of 450 during 2019-2020. Only 36% of incidents of violence and abuse were reported to police by retailers.
Boots has been a mainstay in Bangor’s shopping centre for decades and lies adjacent to the main Menai and Deiniol shopping centres. While Bangor’s main city-centre retail core has undergone change in recent years, exacerbated by the change in shopping habits caused by the pandemic, there remains a strong commitment in the local community, business owners and among local authorities to see Bangor’s shopping area regenerate, and for it to be the most pleasant environment possible for shoppers and retail staff alike.
While at the store, Mr Sargeant and Mr Dunbobbin met with Bangor Boots Store Manager Fiona Evans and her team, including colleagues from security incidents and operations. They discussed the types of abuse staff were experiencing on both the retail and pharmacy sides of the store; how they currently combat these issues; and the support they receive from the wider Boots organisation, demonstrating their use of body-worn video cameras and a wireless alert system for aggressive incidents. There was a positive discussion among all parties about ways to alleviate these issues through partnership working and exploring ways to create a safer environment for both staff and customers.
Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, commented: “It was a pleasure to meet with the Minister at Boots in Bangor and to hear more about the Welsh Government’s firm commitment to tackling abuse and violence towards retail staff. I am a strong supporter of the ShopKind campaign to tackle violence and abuse against shopworkers, and I recognise the important role of trades unions like Usdaw in advocating for the better protection of people working in shops. Preventing retail crime also formed a key part of my manifesto prior to my re-election in May this year.
“Retail staff have a right to go to work and feel safe, and business owners have a right to know that the police are there for them if the worst happens. I know that this view is shared by North Wales Police Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman and her officers. I hope that the new UK Government will press ahead with a new law to make assaulting a retail worker a standalone criminal offence and I look forward to further close partnership working with Welsh Government on reducing violence towards retail workers as their innovative plan takes further effect.”
Minister for Social Partnerships, Jack Sargeant, said: “We are deeply concerned by the rising rates of retail crime, not only is it damaging to the sector but it directly impacts the safety of retail workers. This criminal activity creates a climate of fear and uncertainty for consumers and the wider community - tackling this is crucial to ensuring the safety of these communities, and it is a key focus in our collaboration with Welsh Police Forces, Crime Commissioners and the retail industry.
“We look forward to working with the UK Government to deliver on its commitment to make assaulting a shopworker a specific offence in England and Wales and to building upon our Retail Action Plan, which includes our ambition to work in social partnership for a resilient retail sector that delivers for communities, business and workers.
“These are positive steps towards ensuring a safer environment for everyone involved in the retail sector."
The Welsh Government’s Retail Action Plan, ‘Together for Retail’, launched a year ago and committed government to working with Police and Crime Commissioners to tackle the physical and verbal abuse of retail workers. The main focus of the plan is to improve the prospects of the retail sector and those who work within it.
A notable action in the plan is to work with the retail sector and other stakeholders such as the police, Business Improvement Districts and local councils to establish more business crime partnerships and initiatives. The plan also aims to promote campaigns to combat retail crime by raising awareness with the general public and smaller businesses.