We are pleased to see the announcement that assaulting a retail worker will be made a specific offense in England and Wales.

Retail workers deserve a safe working environment and the full protection of the law. Reports of assaults on retail workers have increased dramatically and our high streets, and the people working on them, deserve better.

Cliff Vanstone, Chair of Cardiff Against Business Crime, Cardiff’s business crime reduction partnership said,

Today’s breaking news is the result of months of hard work from a wide range of partners who should be rightly proud of their efforts in championing the safety of those that work in retail. Nobody should face violence in the workplace and the rising rate of assaults reported on shop workers has made it clear that something needed to be done.

Shop-lifting remains a key issue for businesses on the high street and we continue to advocate for serious action in this area particularly when it comes to organised crime and persistent offenders.

These crimes are having a serious impact of business bottom lines at a time of acute financial pressure and we encourage politicians and police to take action on this issue.