Organisations call for a focus on keeping staff safe as UK riots raise personal safety concerns.
The British Retail Consortium has expressed concern for its members following recent rioting across the UK.
Much of the disorder took place within high streets with shops being targeted for looting.
The disorder began after the murder of three young girls in Southport on 29 July.
To date, over 900 people have been arrested in relation to violent disorder and antisocial behaviour.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Many retail workers have been heading to work fearing their stores and their safety could be compromised by the looting and vandalism that has taken grip in various parts of the country. Some are already seeing the impact, as they spend their day cleaning up the damage caused by these selfish and criminal acts.”
In April, a new law was set to be introduced making assaulting a retail worker a standalone criminal offence, although new Prime Minister Keir Starmer is yet to announce whether this will be continue under his government.
Staff safety company Peoplesafe also saw a 10% rise in demand for personal safety alarms in the past two weeks.
“This isn’t acceptable”
Its CEO and BSIA Chair of the Lone Working Group Naz Dossa said that the riots have left lone working staff, particularly those employed in retail, hospitality and healthcare feeling vulnerable: “Events like this bring to the fore concerns for personal safety but we’ve seen in research that this isn’t just down to isolated events – it’s always there.
“We know from our research that nearly seven million workers in the UK already worry about their safety each week. Pre-riots, 57% were already concerned about facing aggression from the public and in one in four were already saying they would prefer not to take a role that involved face-to-face contact with the public. 62% cited personal safety concerns among the reasons for this.
“This isn’t acceptable. Everyone, regardless of their race, religion, or gender has an unequivocal right to feel safe and secure when doing their job. There can be no more excuses.
“Ensuring the personal safety of the UK’s workforce can no longer be ring fenced by 9-5 office working hours either. Recent events demonstrate that our workforce also needs this support out in the field and on the commute.”