I recently undertook a walkabout at the St James Retail Park along with the Police and site managers. The visit followed reports from shop managers and customers of escalating problems of shoplifting and abuse towards members of staff working in shops across the site.

I was concerned, in conversations with the police and with customers, to hear that there is neither CCTV nor security staff provided in one particular store, despite a serious assault having already taken place against a member of staff.

Sadly, attacks on shopworkers are all too common. A survey conducted by Usdaw in 2017 revealed that over two-thirds of shopworkers were verbally abused, 37% were threatened and around 265 were assaulted every day.

Companies have a duty of care towards their staff and I’ve now written to the store in question to ask that they provide additional security to protect their workers and I’m working with the police and the site manager to improve security across the whole retail park.