A DISTRICT MP says there should be a zero-tolerance approach towards assaults on shopworkers.

Philip Davies was speaking as the Government announced that attacks on retail workers would be made a standalone criminal offence.

In a report published earlier this year, the British Retail Consortium said violent and abusive incidents against shopworkers had increased by 50 per cent in the 12 months to September, 2023.

This month, prime minister Rishi Sunak announced that the Government will be amending its Criminal Justice Bill to bring in the new offence, which will apply to England and Wales.

Under amendments to the bill currently making its way through Parliament, the new offence will carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail.

Perpetrators could also receive an unlimited fine and be banned from the shop where they committed the offence.

Serial offenders could be forced to wear tags so their movements can be tracked.

Mr Sunak said: “I have been concerned by the rise in retail crime, as I’m sure many others are, which is why we’ve announced a strong set of measures to clamp down on retail crime.

“The measures have been warmly welcomed by retailers and police that I’ve spoken to and crucially it will demonstrate to our shopworkers that we’ve got their back and also that we will do whatever it takes to keep our streets and communities safe."

An existing provision under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act already sets out to protect shopworkers by making it an aggravated offence to attack them.

But over the past six months, more than 47,000 people have signed a petition calling for the creation of a separate offence of assaulting a retail worker.

Mr Davies, whose Shipley constituency includes Cullingworth and Denholme, says: “As someone who worked for Asda for 12 years before entering Parliament, assaults on shopworkers is a subject close to my heart and I have worked very closely with the Co-op and the Institute of Customer Service on this issue.

“Assaulting a shopworker or any other frontline worker is already an offence – brought in two years ago – and I was delighted to play a leading role in bringing that about.

“Clearly it is important for retailers to always report these assaults, for the police to fully investigate them and for the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute.

“There should be a zero-tolerance policy to assaults on shopworkers.”