Tesco CEO backs petition to make violence against workers a criminal offence
Tesco UK CEO Jason Tarry has backed a new petition calling on the government to make violence or abuse against retail workers a standalone criminal offence.
The petition, which was lodged with parliament this week by Tesco worker Jenny Whyte, is urging for tougher laws protecting shop staff.
This comes as violent incidents against store workers at the leading retailer are up by a third on this time last year.
According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), there are 850 incidents each day of violence and abuse towards British store staff.
Tarry said he is “fully behind” the petition, adding “we want our colleagues to be safe at work.”
“Creating a standalone offence not only sends a strong message to the small but violent group of people who abuse and attack shopworkers, but also makes it clear to shopworkers that as a nation we take protecting them seriously.
“I would encourage anyone who wants to see retail workers better protected to sign the petition, as every signature makes a difference.”
As the petition has already been backed by thousands of people across Britain, if the number of signatories passes 10,000, the government will have to respond to it, and if it gathers 100,000, it may be debated in parliament.
In a bid to protect colleagues from assault, Tesco began offering store workers body worn cameras in September and introduced new protective screens earlier this month at hundreds of its Express stores and petrol station kiosks.
Related news
Tesco installs anti-theft smoke machines at high-risk stores
Tesco has introduced smoke machines in some of its stores…
Read more >Lidl wins through its ‘breadification’ strategy in the UK
British supermarkets are being criticised for allegedly misleading marketing in…
Read more >Tesco launches marketplace to become one-stop shop online
Tesco has launched an online marketplace allowing customers the ability…
Read more >Related news
A new office responsible for food safety and retail trade can be established under the leadership of Márton Nagy
A new top organization called the National Trade Office could…
Read more >K&H: Almost two-thirds of businesses are planning development
The majority of domestic micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, 61…
Read more >KSH: industrial production fell by 8.2 percent in June
In June 2024, the volume of industrial production was 8.2…
Read more >