Oral Question·Department for Business and Trade
“If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.”
Tabled: 14 May 2026Answered: 21 May 2026
Asked by
Bradley Thomas
Conservative — Bromsgrove
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Answer from Hansard
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Seema Malhotra)
Levels of violence and abuse towards retail workers are unacceptably high, with a shoplifting epidemic plaguing our high streets across the country. That is why this Government will bring in a new offence of assaulting a retail worker, and end the effective immunity for shoplifting of goods below £200. Unlike the Conservative party, we want to send a message that all shoplifting is illegal and that offenders will not escape punishment.