A week of action to raise awareness of business crime, which involves police forces engaging with local businesses, retailers, and the community, has started.
The week-long initiative is organised by the National Business Crime Centre, which represents UK police forces, to work in partnership with the business community to tackle crimes against businesses.
At the heart of the action week is the #ShopKind campaign, which urges the public to be mindful of shopworkers’ essential role in serving the public and emphasises that workers should be treated with respect, kindness, and gratitude.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary, said: “We very much welcome the work of the National Business Crime Centre and the co-ordination they do to bring police forces, retailers, shopworkers and communities together to promote the ‘#ShopKind’ message. There is no doubt that crimes against businesses are a main trigger for violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers.
“Violence and abuse are not an acceptable part of the job and too many shopworkers suffer all too often. We need better co-ordination to ensure that retail employers, police and the courts work together to make stores safer and give staff the support and confidence they need. This week of action is a great step towards that aim.”
Usdaw will be launching its annual Respect for Shopworkers Week on 14 November. The campaign week is part of the union’s year-round Freedom from Fear campaign and will see thousands of activists running respect events in their workplaces and communities.
