Retailers welcome crime crackdown in Victoria as patrols reduce shopfloor threats

Australia’s biggest retailers can claim something of a victory over the shop crime wave as police action delivers measurable results and Victoria prepares to implement new laws.

There are hopes the retail crime wave in Victoria has stabilised.

Appeals by Australia’s retailers for a policy response to halt the crime wave terrorising store employees have been vindicated with a detectable fall in theft and violence since states acted on the sector’s pleas for support.

Even the hot spot of Victoria has witnessed an apparent stabilisation in incidents of crime. One national retailer, who wished to remain anonymous, said there had been a noticeable improvement in Melbourne’s CBD where an increased police presence has been implemented.

Last week, representatives of retailers operating in Victoria sat down with leaders of the police to flesh out new measures and improve co-operation that has yielded more police patrols in retail precincts and methodical collection of crime data.

The closed-door meeting, which included a brief appearance by newly appointed state police commissioner Mike Bush, also discussed strategies for the new year.

Victoria, a problem state according leading retail chief executives, has been the outlier when it comes to fighting retail crime against which it was slow to react, but is now pledging to pass Workplace Protection Order legislation as well as strengthen penalties for assaults, abuse and harassment against retail workers.

Woolworths, Coles, Kmart, Bunnings, Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, Ikea, 7-Eleven and Cotton On co-signed a letter addressed to Premier Jacinta Allan and members of her cabinet demanding urgent action on August 26. Consultation between her government and the industry hastened in October.

Bunnings has been forced to implement greater security at its stores, especially in Victoria. Picture: Tony Gough

Similar laws were passed last week in South Australian parliament, and embraced by the retail sector as a useful tool in protecting staff from physical violence and ejecting known offenders from stores. Its adoption in Victoria should mean a reduction in violence and theft in key hotspots in Melbourne, retailers hope.

The SA laws mean that individuals can be banned from store entry for 12 months for acts such as stalking, intimidation or property damage. If prosecuted, they face up to five years’ jail depending on the seriousness of the breach.

“The retail community is deeply supportive of the efforts being made by the Victorian police to combat retail crime,” said Australian Retailers Association CEO Chris Rodwell. “The co-operation between retailers and the Victorian Police has intensified. The commitments they’re making to raise visibility in retail precincts as well as support better reporting are critical investments.

“There’s still much work to do, but the direction is the right one. It needs to be, given it is the national hotspot for retail crime.”

This year, retail executives reached their breaking point with a 30 per cent spike in retail crime in Jacinta Allan’s Victoria prompting a rare linking of arms across the sector. National chains such as Woolworths, Coles, Super Retail Group and Myer said crime was disproportionately higher for their stores in Victoria compared with other states.

A spokesman for department store Myer welcomed the recent introduction of WPO legislation in South Australia as an effective tool for combating violent crime and called on it to be implemented nationwide.

“Workplace protection orders provide Myer and other retailers with another method to target retail crime and keep our team and customers safe. We welcome the decision of the South Australian and Victorian governments to introduce these laws which are a step in the right direction to tackle the unacceptable increase in offences we and other retailers are experiencing.

“Myer continues to advocate for these measures to be adopted nationwide.”

Hardware retailer Bunnings, which has documented the escalation of violent criminals entering its stores, believes the new measures can be powerful in combating retail crime.

“Bunnings has been a leading advocate for action to address the very serious issue of retail crime, alongside other retailers and industry stakeholders, for some time,” Bunnings CEO Michael Schneider told The Australian.

“Retail crime has escalated into a safety crisis for frontline workers and we’re encouraged to see state and territory governments finally taking meaningful action. These vital measures show a willingness to recognise the seriousness of retail crime and its community impacts, and are an important step towards ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our team and customers.

“We hope to see changes implemented swiftly and effectively with bipartisan support, so that retail workers can feel safe and supported in their workplaces. It is too soon to be able to assess the effectiveness and impact of recent announcements by governments.”

Part of the problem has been attributed to organised crime, where high-value items like sports equipment and electronics are stolen for resale on the black market. This was described as “industrial scale theft” by Rebel owner Super Retail Group.

Woolworths head of acts of violence and aggression Sarah Faorlin said the retail industry was aligned more strongly than ever on the need for keeping store staff safe.

“We are encouraged to see state governments stepping up with reforms that will reduce the violence and abuse in stores. It is early days.”

Woolworths said it would work with whoever it needs to in the interest of reducing retail crime.

“The critical action is happening and it will make a difference in our stores. We expect to see serious incidents start to reduce in the coming months.”

Originally published as Retailers welcome crime crackdown in Victoria as patrols reduce shopfloor threats