Shopworkers' Protection Pledge

THE PLEDGE | SUPPORTERS | ENDORSEMENTS | FOR THE PUBLIC | SHARE

WHAT IS THE SHOPWORKERS’ PROTECTION PLEDGE?

Our BRC 2020 Retail Crime Survey showed that over 400 retail workers face violence and abuse in the workplace every day. These incidents are often the result of challenging shoplifters, enforcing age restricted sales and recently, implementing coronavirus safety measures. Against this backdrop, retailers are spending a record £1.2 billion on crime prevention measures to keep their colleagues safe, but we need Parliament to act too.

In February 2020, the Prime Minister stated that “we should not tolerate crimes of violence against shopworkers”. It is essential such words are backed up by action.

That’s why we launched the Shopworkers’ Protection Pledge to give MPs an opportunity to show their support for retail workers. We are asking MPs to pledge to recognise the serious impact that violence and abuse has on shopworkers and the local communities they serve and stand with retail workers to support legislation to better protect them.

THE PLEDGE

Over 400 retail workers face violence and abuse in the workplace every single day. The British Retail Consortium Crime Survey shows an increasing problem of abuse, threats and violence facing the millions of people who work in our shops, serving our local communities. These incidents are often the result of challenging shoplifters, enforcing age restricted sales and recently, implementing coronavirus safety measures.

These victims of abuse carry their experiences with them for a lifetime. It affects them, their colleagues, and the families they go home to. Retail workers don’t just serve the community, they are the community and have been ‘Hidden Heroes’ during the coronavirus pandemic, working tirelessly to keep the nation fed and supplied with the items we have all needed.

As elected Members of Parliament, we have a duty to protect retail workers, ensuring that those who needlessly assault shop staff face the full force of the law. No one should have to face violence or threats in their workplace.

I pledge to champion shopworkers in my constituency and:

Recognise the serious impact that violence and abuse has on shopworkers and the local communities they serve.
Stand with retail workers to support legislation to better protect them.

SUPPORTERS

MPs who have signed the Shopworkers' Protection Pledge.

MIKE AMESBURY
MP for Weaver Vale

PHILIP DAVIES
MP for Shipley

DEHENNA DAVISON
MP for Bishop Auckland

STEVE MCCABE
MP for Birmingham Selly Oak

GRAHAME MORRIS
MP for Easington

ALEX CUNNINGHAM
MP for Stockton North

SIR DAVID AMESS
MP for Southend West

CHRIS EVANS
MP for Islwyn

ESTHER MCVEY
MP for Tatton

CHRISTINE JARDINE
MP for Edinburgh West

LILIAN GREENWOOD
MP for Nottingham South

ANDREW GWYNNE
MP for Denton and Reddish

RACHAEL MASKELL
MP for York Central

MICK WHITLEY
MP for Birkenhead

PHILIP HOLLOBONE
MP for Kettering

KENNY MACASKILL
MP for East Lothian

HENRY SMITH
MP for Crawley

HILARY BENN
MP for Leeds Central

PATRICK MCFADDEN
MP for Wolverhampton South East

PETER DOWD
MP for Bootle

ROB ROBERTS
MP for Delyn

BEN LAKE
MP for Ceredigion

HUW MERRIMAN
MP for Bexhill and Battle

PAULA BARKER
MP for Liverpool Wavertree

ANDREW ROSINDELL
MP for Romford

SARAH CHAMPION
MP for Rotherham

MOHAMMAD YASIN
MP for Bedford

WERA HOBHOUSE
MP for Bath

CATHERINE MCKINNELL
MP for Newcastle North

JACK DROMEY
MP for Birmingham Erdington

KIM JOHNSON
MP for Liverpool Riverside

VIRENDRA SHARMA
MP for Ealing Southall

FIONA BRUCE
MP for Congleton

APSANA BEGUM
MP for Poplar and Limehouse

MARGARET FERRIER
MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West

LAYLA MORAN
MP for Oxford West and Abingdon

SARAH OLNEY
MP for Richmond Park

ROSIE COOPER
MP for West Lancashire

DAISY COOPER
MP for St Albans

ALAN BROWN
MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun

CLAUDIA WEBBE
MP for Leicester East

DEREK TWIGG
MP for Halton

GEORGE HOWARTH
MP for Knowsley

ALLAN DORANS
MP for Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock

BARBARA KEELEY
MP for Worsley and Eccles

JUDITH CUMMINS
MP for Bradford South

CAROLINE LUCAS
MP for Brighton Pavilion

RICHARD THOMSON
MP for Gordon

NEALE HANVEY
MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath

CLIVE BETTS
MP for Sheffield South East

BELL RIBEIRO-ADDY
MP for Streatham

MARK ISHERWOOD
Member of the Senedd in the Welsh Parliament

RUPA HUQ
MP for Ealing Central and Acton

JACOB YOUNG
MP for Redcar

JAMES DALY
MP for Bury North

JAMES GRUNDY
MP for Leigh

NICOLA RICHARDS
MP for West Bromwich East

MATT VICKERS
MP for Stockton South

"Having worked in retail for a number of years, I sadly experienced abuse first hand, and even witnessed violence against a colleague. No retail worker deserves to be met with such behaviour for simply doing their job. With evidence of abuse and violence cases rising in recent years, I am proud to support the British Retail Consortium and sign the Shopworkers' Protection Pledge." Dehenna Davison MP, Bishop Auckland

“I am proud to sign the British Retail Consortium’s Pledge for better protection for shopworkers. No one should face abuse and violence when they go to work. Shopworkers are most vulnerable when they are enforcing age restrictions and stopping shoplifting, now they are having to enforce coronavirus safety measures. When people are expected to enforce our laws, they should also be protected by them. We need to focus the government’s mind on policy and action to protect shopworkers that serve every community across the country.” Steve McCabe MP, Birmingham Selly Oak

“Having spent many years working in retail before becoming an MP I am acutely aware of the unacceptable abuse shopworkers face all too regularly. Coronavirus should have shown us all how much we rely on our shopworkers and appreciate them more and yet the levels of abuse have gone up which is completely outrageous. We must do more to support our shopworkers.” Philip Davies MP, Shipley

“Throughout the Covid-19 crisis shopworkers have been there for our communities week in week out. Not only do they deserve our gratitude, they must have greater protection enshrined in law against abuse, threats and assaults.” Mike Amesbury MP, Weaver Vale

"Abuse, threats and violence should not be an accepted part of life working in retail. Shopworkers need our protection. Everyone has a right to a safe and secure workplace, and anyone found guilty of an attack on a retail worker should face the full extent of the law. I am delighted to add my support to the Shopworkers' Protection Pledge and stand with retail workers campaigning for legislation to better protect them." Grahame Morris MP, Easington

"Shopworkers in my constituency of Stockton North and beyond should not have to put up with violence and abuse that retail workers can often face simply by doing their job. Retail workers are implementing the law, and shouldn’t be attacked by members of the public for doing so. I’m proud to back the pledge." Alex Cunningham MP, Stockton North

"During the Coronavirus pandemic shop workers bravely put themselves on the front line to keep the nation going. All people deserve a workplace free from abuse, we must do all we can to provide that environment for shopworkers." Chris Evans MP, Islwyn

"The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated more clearly than ever the critical public service shopworkers provide to support our communities. I’m shocked and angered by the research from USDAW, the shopworkers union, revealing that abuse of shopworkers has doubled during the Coronavirus emergency. This is entirely unacceptable and I stand with the BRC, USDAW and all retail workers in calling for legislation to better protect them from violence at work." Lilian Greenwood MP, Nottingham South

"Shopworkers are key workers who have done a vital job of keeping our communities going during the COVID19 pandemic. They should never have to face abuse, threats or violence and should expect to be safe at work. The law on this should be strengthened so that attacks on retail workers are treated as a serious offence. I am proud to support the Shopworkers Protection Pledge and to support retail staff campaigning for better protection in their workplaces." Barbara Keeley MP, Worsley and Eccles

FOR THE PUBLIC

Support our campaign to help better protect shopworkers by asking your MP to sign the pledge today.

To find your MP and their contact details click here.

SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Please show your support for our campaign.

It’s unacceptable that over 400 retail workers face violence and abuse every day. I am calling on my MP to help address this growing problem by signing the @the_brc Shopworkers’ Protection Pledge! Find out more: https://brc.org.uk/news/corporate-affairs/shopworkers-protection-pledge/

Retail workers are at the heart of every community and deserve to be better protected against violence and abuse! I support the Shopworkers’ Protection Pledge to introduce legislation to better protect retail workers! Find out more: https://brc.org.uk/news/corporate-affairs/shopworkers-protection-pledge/

Shopworkers' Protection Pledge

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