The scourge of customer abuse and violence in retail and fast food outlets has been on the rise, especially since COVID, with law enforcement struggling to keep up.
A nationwide survey of shoppers conducted by Fifty Acres and YouGov for the SDA found that:
- 71% have personally experienced or witnessed abuse directed at retail or fast food workers
- 60% have seen verbal abuse
- 28% have seen physical aggression
- 20% have seen sexual harassment or abuse
- 13% have seen threats involving a weapon
The research found that abuse is concentrated in major supermarkets (45%) and shopping centres (40%), roughly twice the rate of other retail settings
In response to campaigning by the SDA, Workplace Protection Orders are being introduced in all states except Queensland and Tasmania.
Victoria runs the risk of running out of time to legislate before this year’s election.
WPOs, first introduced in the ACT, operate like AVOs, barring repeat offenders from retail premises for up to 12 months.
Woolworths says that since it imposed WPOs on 13 “high harm” offenders in the ACT it had seen a 23 percent reduction in total offending across its Canberra stores.
Reliable estimates indicate that 10 percent of repeat offenders are responsible for fully 60 percent of retail crime.
“The evidence is in. Workplace Protection Orders work. They protect shoppers and frontline retail workers alike from repeat offenders.
“They work for customers, workers, proprietors and police. States that have failed to act are letting down the law abiding citizens of their communities.
“They do not place additional pressure on police because they are initiated by proprietors of retail premises and mean police have less crime to deal with.”
“Win, win, win, win.”
Quotes from Gerard Dwyer, National Secretary the SDA the union for retail, fast food, warehouse and online retail workers
“Violence against retail employees is on the rise in Queensland, it is unacceptable and something needs to be done. Even customers can see the problem is getting worse.
“We now know that Workplace Protection Orders work and protect vulnerable retail employees from some of the worst violent offenders. Despite this and despite having met with members of the Queensland Government on multiple occasions about Workplace Protection Orders, we are now 12 months down the track and we still have no commitment.
“The Crisifulli Government promised to be “Tough on Crime”. Here is a golden opportunity to prove it, and to prove they are putting the interests of 250,000 law abiding Queensland retail employees above the interests of the violent criminal offenders.
“The time to introduce these laws is now, before any more retail employee are injured or worse”
Quotes from Justin Power, Queensland SDA Secretary
“Violence by aggressive customers in the retail and fast food industry in Victoria is getting worse. This is often by repeat offenders.
“The Victorian Government needs to catch up to the ACT, NSW, SA and WA.
“Banning aggressive customers through enforceable Workplace Protection Orders must be the Number 1 priority of the Victorian Government. It needs to be fast tracked through the Parliament.”
Quotes from Michael Donovan, Victorian SDA Secretary
Contact: Jim Middleton 0418 627066