Margaret Mullane MP has joined with the General Secretary of USDAW, the shop workers’ union, to welcome the confirmation by the Government of
urgent actions to tackle growing levels of retail crime after last week’s statistics showed a 23% increase in shoplifting, which has almost doubled since the pandemic.
Margaret said: “I have seen how local businesses in Elm Park and Dagenham Heathway are struggling with the rise in shoplifting. In many cases, thieves are stealing in full view of staff because they just don’t fear the consequences. In some instances these criminals threaten the staff with violence.
"For far too long, crimes like shoplifting have been written off as low level. That’s wrong, Police were effectively told to ignore shoplifting under £200 worth of goods. We’ve got rid of that shoplifters’ charter.”
Margaret is also campaigning to bring about changes to the law so that tougher sentences are imposed on theft of tradespeople’s tools. She met with a delegation in Westminster in the last week to discuss measures to deter this crime.
Margaret went on to say “It’s very good that the new Labour Government will soon introduce a Crime and Policing Bill. Among other things this new legislation will deliver a much-needed protection for retail workers and introduce Respect Orders for repeat offenders.
"I hope that these new measures will help give retail workers the respect they deserve.
"I also want to see more attention given to the theft of mobile phones. I have heard accounts from a number of local parents of their children being threatened on the street to pass over their phones to thugs.”
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