Oral Question·Home Office
“What steps she is taking to help reduce levels of abuse experienced by retail workers.”
Tabled: 20 October 2026Answered: 26 October 2026
Asked by
Kirsteen Sullivan
Labour (Co-op) — Bathgate and Linlithgow
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for the Home Department
Answer from Hansard
The Minister for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones)
Abuse and violence against retail workers ballooned under the last Government. The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers and others campaigned for action. We promised to take action, and we have: the Crime and Policing Act 2026 introduces a new offence of assaulting a retail worker, punishable by up to six months’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.