NSW shoppers demand bans on violent offenders as CCTV of Woolworths attack is released
NSW residents are demanding unprecedented powers to ban violent offenders from visiting the shops, as new footage of a young Woolworths manager being coward punched emerges.
A massive majority of NSW residents are demanding the state government install workplace protection orders to stop violent, repeat offenders from being able to go to the shops.
The demand for action comes as harrowing footage emerges of a supermarket worker being coward punched at the checkout of a Woolworths store.
Exclusive new polling by Redbridge revealed 84 per cent of NSW residents surveyed support the introduction of Workplace Protection Orders to prevent serious or repeat offenders from entering stores.
Meanwhile, 85 per cent said there needed to be stronger penalties for those who abuse or assault retail workers. NSW has retail specific abuse legislation, but does not have workplace protection orders – like those installed in the ACT.
Last week, the NSW Government launched a police-led retail crime strategy which will include high-visibility policing operations, and running intelligence-led retail theft operations to target and disrupt crime, as a result of The Telegraph’s Stop Shop Abuse campaign.
The government also rolled out the ability for police prosecutors to apply to prevent recidivist and violent offenders from re-entering individual retail premises with a “place restriction order” after a convictions.
A workplace protection order, however, would see a repeat offender restricted from entering a “group of shops”, rather than just the location an act of violence occurred at.
The Telegraph’s campaign exposed devastating footage of attacks on supermarket and retail workers across the country, sparking calls for national reform.
In yet another harrowing incident, a 21-year-old Woolworths employee revealed she was called a “f***ing idiot” before she was punched in the face in an unprovoked attack over a store credit.
In shocking footage released to The Saturday Telegraph by Woolworths, the young manager, who did not wish to be named, is seen being attacked by a man wearing a khaki shirt and red hat in six seconds of CCTV.
“He raised his fist at me and punched me directly in the face,” she said. “I gripped the counter in shock (and) to stabilise myself and stared at him … he then threw the product at me and left the store immediately.
“All I remember is seeing his face and him raising his fist at me, and a sudden sharp pain on the left side of my face and feeling panic that I would fall. I was very scared as i was unsure if he would hit me again.”
The staff member said she was shaken over the attack, which has taken a “massive toll” on her mental health, resulting in paranoia and “extreme anxiety”, as the man has never been caught.
Australian Retailers Association chief executive Chris Rodwell said the government’s move to establish a dedicated retail-crime taskforce was “a strong and decisive step”.
“This is exactly the type of co-ordinated action that’s needed to address the rising trend of abuse, threats, theft and violence facing retailers across our state,” Mr Rodwell said. “Too many retail workers are exposed to intimidation and aggression on a daily basis.
“On average, a violent or serious incident occurs every five minutes in Australian retail.
“These aren’t victimless crimes — they impact people, families and communities.”
The ARA boss said the exclusive polling on retail crime backed up their advocacy for Workplace Protection Orders to “give police and courts the power to act quickly and keep repeat offenders out of stores”.
“We urge the NSW Government to make this the next vital step in its retail-crime strategy,” he said.
A NSW Government spokesman said it was “working closely with retailers to stamp out this despicable behaviour”.
“The NSW Government has discussed workplace protection orders with key retailers, associations and unions and will progress further consultation,” he said. “Under our tough new retail crime strategy, repeat, violent offenders can be banned from entering particular stores following a conviction.
“No one deserves to be abused or harassed for doing their job and workers can expect to see more police in shops.”
