Crime

NEWS CRIME: CENTRAL ENGLAND CO-OP

Central England Co-op repeats call for better protection for shopworkers

Call comes after several colleagues are injured during a violent incident.

Central England Co-op has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance crime campaign and is calling for better protection for shopworkers after some of its staff were attacked during a violent incident in Erdington, Birmingham, last Wednesday (11 Aug) afternoon.

The shaken store workers involved received minor injuries during the incident and are supporting police with their investigation.

Craig Goldie, Loss Prevention Manager, said: “We strongly condemn any form of abuse or violence towards our colleagues and are offering our full support to the entire team at the Marsh Lane store. We are working closely with the local police force to bring the criminals responsible to justice.

“These types of incidents reinforce our ongoing campaign calling for better protection for shopworkers and highlights our zero-tolerance policy on all types of crime aimed at our colleagues and customers.”

The retailer had asked customers to “be kind” as part of a campaign during the Covid-19 pandemic encouraging them to treat shop colleagues with respect and to repeat the Co-op’s long-term message to would-be criminals that “it is not worth the risk” to target them.

New research has shown that, in the past 12 months, incidents of verbal abuse jumped by 167%, anti-social behaviour by 39%, assaults by 35%, and threats by 16% compared to 2019.

The retailer also revealed that 312 crimes related directly to Covid-19 have been recorded in stores since the start of the pandemic.

Central England Co-op has rolled out a range of different measures including security assistance buttons and using tracking devices in more products to deter would-be thieves. The Erdington store was also part of a trial of body cameras for staff.

In addition, the retailer has been working with other major retailers, unions, industry bodies, police and crime commissioners and more than 200 MPs to push the government to crackdown further on those who abuse or attack shopworkers via the introduction of tougher penalties such as an automatic prison term.