Abusive shoppers targeted as NSW pushes for tough new retail protection orders

Retail workers in NSW could soon be safer at work after Police Minister Yasmin Catley made the first move towards introducing tough new Workplace Protection Orders.

Retail workers could soon be safer at work after Police Minister Yasmin Catley yesterday made the first move towards introducing tough new Workplace Protection Orders.

The move to allow stores to ban repeat offenders comes after The Telegraph joined with the nation’s major retailers to call for tougher laws to protect shop workers following a dramatic increase in abuse and assaults.

The nation’s attorneys-general also met in Brisbane yesterday and agreed a working group in South Australia, which is on the brink of introducing WPOs, should advise the other states and territories on best practice.

In a communique, the nation’s top law makers agreed “retail worker safety is a priority for all jurisdictions” and also vowed to look at ways to legally use facial recognition technology in stores.

Ms Catley confirmed the state government would release a consultation paper on WPOs in coming weeks.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley in NSW State Parliament. Picture: NewsWire/Dylan Robinson

“Police are working closely with retailers, holding monthly meetings to discuss emerging threats and issues,” she said. “We have strong laws and the government will soon begin consultation on Workplace Protection Orders.”

It comes after the Victorian government introduced five-year jail terms for assaults on shop workers in the wake of a 27.6 per cent increase in retail crime which saw 82,152 incidents there last year.

An act of violence against retail workers in Woolworths stores. Picture: Supplied

Australia Retailers Association chief executive Chris Rodwell said the developments are “great news for the 1.4 million people working in retail and their families and friends.

“There’s no doubt the response to retail crime from governments across the nation has lifted,” he said.

“The introduction of WPOs to stop repeat offenders is now in full swing. This is a huge win for workers who for too long have had to put up with risks to their safety.”

He also welcomed the willingness to look at the use of facial recognition technology which international experience had shown was effective in combating retail crime.

Woolworths helped launch our campaign by sharing shocking CCTV footage of staff being abused, struck and assaulted with knives.

“The Telegraph’s Stop Shop Abuse has been pivotal to raising awareness to violence facing our teams and for giving a voice to the many team members who have bravely shared their stories,” a spokesman said.

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