‘It’s not just theft we’re talking about, it’s full scale abuse, assault, really terrible incidents’
Major retailers are calling for increased police protection of staff across the country, after an operation kicked off in the Australian capital.
The ACT operation targets theft and violence in stores after more than 800,000 reports of retail workers suffering instances of abuse and violence nationwide in the past year, industry insiders want the operation expanded.
“It’s not just theft we’re talking about, it’s full-scale abuse, assault, really terrible incidents that those teams have to deal with,” the Australian Retailers Association’s Fleur Brown told Today.
The Australian Retailers Association’s Fleur Brown told Today a stronger police presence is needed in stores. (Today)
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“So having a stronger police presence means that you’ve got police at the scene when those incidents are happening and that means those retail teams don’t have to fend for themselves in that situation.”
Brown is reminding all shoppers to be respectful to retail workers, particularly younger staff who may be in their first jobs.
And if you see a retail worker being abused, don’t intervene.
“If you see something, do report it, don’t step in,” she said.
“We’re not encouraging anyone other than authorities to take action in these situations.”
Hear the full interview in the video above