Merseyside Police has become the first police force in the UK to partner with charity Retail Trust to tackle escalating levels of abuse, violence and intimidation against shop workers.
The initiative will see retail staff across Liverpool city centre receive specialist de-escalation training delivered by the Retail Trust alongside enhanced support from local police officers.
As part of the programme, around 500 shop workers will gain access to the charity’s dedicated wellbeing and support resources, designed to help staff manage and recover from abusive incidents at work.
Training sessions are currently taking place in and around St John’s Shopping Centre, with a wider rollout across the city centre planned in the coming months.
The move comes amid growing concerns about abuse faced by retail workers. The Retail Trust warned last year that more than three quarters of shop staff (77 per cent) had experienced intimidating behaviour, while 23 per cent reported being physically assaulted.
Although the charity has previously rolled out training to thousands of retail employees across the UK, this marks the first time it has formally partnered with a police force to deliver support directly alongside law enforcement.
The programme is funded through the Hyper-Local Policing Fund, awarded by the Home Office and secured by the region’s police and crime commissioner.
Funding will be used to prevent knife crime, violence and robbery and improve public safety across four priority areas of Liverpool city centre, including St George’s Quarter, Matthew Street and Ropewalks.
Police officers will remain closely involved in the initiative as part of a broader zero-tolerance approach to abuse and violence against retail workers. The force will also monitor the programme’s impact on business robbery offences and violence against shop staff in the city centre.
Superintendent Philip Mullally, force lead for serious violence and knife crime at Merseyside Police, said retail workers should never feel unsafe while doing their jobs.
“Retail workers are an important part of our local economy and should not have to feel intimidated, threatened or unsafe doing their jobs,” he said.
“By becoming the first police force in the UK to partner with the Retail Trust we are sending a clear message to those intent on causing harm and violence that we will not tolerate it and we will take robust and swift action.
“This initiative is key in giving retail workers the confidence and tools necessary to defuse difficult situations in the knowledge that we stand with them and support them in times of conflict.”
Emily Spurrell added that the initiative sends a strong signal that abuse of retail workers will not be tolerated.
“No one should ever go to work fearing abuse, intimidation or violence,” she said.
“Our shop workers and retail staff do an incredible job keeping services running for our communities, and they deserve to feel safe and respected every day. I’m proud that Merseyside Police is the first force in the country to partner with the Retail Trust on this initiative.
“By investing in practical training, wellbeing support and a zero-tolerance stance on abuse, we are sending a clear message: retail crime will not be tolerated in Merseyside.”
Chris Brook‑Carter said abuse towards shop workers remains a widespread issue across the sector.
“Shop workers across the country are being abused, threatened and assaulted on a daily basis simply for doing their jobs,” he said.
“Hundreds of retailers’ employees have already taken part in our training and we’ve joined forces with Merseyside Police to bring even more support to retail workers in Liverpool.
“We want to teach people how to safely de-escalate and recover from verbal and physical assaults and work with the police to make the city’s shops safer.”
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