Merseyside Police has become the first UK police force to partner with the charity Retail Trust to help protect shop workers from escalating levels of abuse, violence and intimidation.
The initiative will see retail staff across Liverpool’s city centre receive specialist de-escalation training from the Retail Trust and new support from police.
This will give workers more tools and confidence to safely manage, de-escalate and recover from violent and confrontational situations and protect their wellbeing.
Five hundred workers will also be given access to the Retail Trust’s range of dedicated resources to help staff deal with abuse at work as part of the new partnership.
Sessions are taking place at St John’s Shopping Centre and the city centre, with a wider roll-out planned in the coming months. This is the first time the charity has partnered with a police force to bring more support to staff.
The programme is being funded by the Hyper-Local Policing Fund, awarded by the Home Office and secured by Merseyside’s Police & Crime Commissioner and Merseyside Police. It’s being used to prevent knife crime, violence and robbery and improve public safety in four priority areas of the city centre, including St George’s Quarter, Matthew Street and Ropewalks.
Police officers will be closely involved throughout the initiative, as part of their zero-tolerance approach to abuse and violence against retail workers, and will evaluate its impact on business robbery offences, violence against shop workers and other related crime within the city centre. Offenders will continue to be pursued, held to account and put before the courts.
“Retail workers are an important part of our local economy and should not have to feel intimidated and threatened doing their jobs…”
Superintendent Philip Mullally, force lead for serious violence and knife crime, said: “Retail workers are an important part of our local economy and should not have to feel intimidated and threatened or unsafe doing their jobs. By becoming the first police force in the UK to partner with the Retail Trust we’re sending a clear message to those intent on causing harm and violence that we will not tolerate it and will take robust and swift action.
“This initiative is key in giving retail workers the confidence and tools necessary to defuse difficult situations in the knowledge that we stand with them and support them in times of conflict.”
Merseyside Police crime commissioner, Emily Spurrell, added: “No one should ever go to work fearing abuse, intimidation or violence. Our shop workers and retail staff do an incredible job keeping services running for our communities, and they deserve to feel safe and respected every day.
“By investing in practical training, wellbeing support and a zero-tolerance stance on abuse, we’re sending a clear message - retail crime will not be tolerated in Merseyside. We’ll continue working with businesses, local authorities and our police colleagues to protect staff, reduce crime and ensure our high streets remain welcoming places for all.”
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