Dagenham And Rainham MP Adds Her Backing To Campaign To Stop Violence Towards Retail Workers.

Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed the support of Margaret Mullane  Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham, for measures to tackle retail crime and the abuse, threats and violence shop workers often face as a result. Margaret met Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis and shop workers in Parliament to hear first-hand experiences of life on the frontline of retail.

Margaret, who has supported many shop workers across her constituency, told the Havering Daily: “Retail workers are at the heart of our communities delivering essential services, they are key workers who deserve our respect and the protection of the law. Under the Tories, retail crime was rampant and doubled since the pandemic. I know from my work particularly in supporting shop staff in Elm Park and Dagenham Heathway that there has been a massive increase in recorded shoplifting incidents since 2021 and we know that is only the tip of the iceberg as many crimes go unreported.

“After years of Conservative failure, I am pleased to support our Labour Government’s measures to tackle this growing problem. The Crime and Policing Bill will introduce Criminal Behaviour Orders to tackle persistent offenders and end the Tories’ perverse £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which essentially gave a green light to theft. The Bill also creates a new standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker and I want to see that extended to delivery drivers as well.

“I stand with the thousands of retail workers in Dagenham and Rainham who do not go to work to be abused, threatened and assaulted. Labour’s projects to tackle the organised crime that is so often behind retail crime, will make a real difference and I fully support Usdaw’s long-running and highly successful Freedom from Fear campaign.”

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw general secretary said “No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but our evidence shows that too many retail workers are. It is shocking that over three-quarters of our members working in retail are being abused, threatened and assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community. Margaret Mullane MP along with Labour in government is delivering for our members and we very much welcome this support.”

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