Bolton town centre shop managers react to new laws to protect them

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced this week that assaulting shop staff will be made a separate criminal offence, after the Government U-turned in the face of a long-running campaign.

Manager of Poundbakery on Market Street in the town centre, Lesley Olive, says she does not feel as though the new measures will make them feel safer because people will still commit the offence.

Whilst they have not had to deal with any physical abuse, Lesley says the thought of that happening is “scary”.

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She said: “We have experienced verbal abuse and people coming in and stealing things.

“We had someone steal something the other day, and I challenged them.

“Sometimes you can get a bit scared because you don’t know if they will hit back and do something.

“We are working really hard, and people think they have the right to steal.

“A couple of years ago we had an incident of abuse and had to put the shutter down.”

Millie Johnson, who owns Mr Fry, superb fish, and chip restaurant, says she does think that this will make her, and the staff feel safer.

At the chippy, Millie says they have often had to deal with anti-social-behaviour and theft of tips, and even some of the money from the till, and that she is not afraid to confront them if necessary or ask people to leave.

Owner of Mr Fry on the right: Millie Johnson with her colleague (Image: Newsquest)She said: “I could not think of anything worse than assaulting anyone let alone a staff member.

“It’s good that the Government want to do something.

“We have had tips stolen and money from the till when it was broken once.

“When people are stealing from the business it’s like they are stealing from me as a person because I own the business and we are all trying to survive.

“I have challenged people because it’s a natural instinct.

“It is only me though and not other staff members.”

Staff have also been spat at in this chippy, and had items thrown at them, including a hot pudding meal, which Millie says leaves them vulnerable because they do not know if they will become a target.

Some of the damage to furniture at Mr Fry (Image: Newsquest)Millie says that the chippy has also had some furniture vandalised in the past, including chairs and the front window being smashed.

Ministers had previously ruled out legislating to create a new offence, saying in response to a parliamentary petition in October they did not think it was “required or will be most effective”.

But on Wednesday, Mr Sunak announced that his Government will be amending its Criminal Justice Bill to bring in the new offence, which will apply to England and Wales.

The new offence will carry a maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment or an unlimited fine, the same sentence for the existing offence of common assault.

Repeat offenders could also be forced to wear an electronic tag, as could consistent shoplifters, under amendments to the Bill currently making its way through Parliament.

The Government also plans to pilot community sentencing measures with an as yet unnamed police force to tackle high levels of shoplifting, along with greater use of facial recognition technology to identify people wanted by the police in crowded areas.

As part of the crackdown, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have deployed newly recruited officers, supported by senior officers, into Bolton town centre over the last few months to help support security staff and identify theft hotspots.

Since officers set up a dedicated taskforce to tackle the crime, there has been a large number of arrests made for shoplifting, vehicle crime, and burglaries across the borough.

Owner of Mathers of Lancashire, Stephen McDonough, says that he already feels protected and is not afraid of anyone who tries to steal anything or carry out any anti-social-behaviour.

He feels as though his business is not particularly vulnerable but says more deterrents should be in place for shoplifting.

Stephen said: “If people try to rob from me, it’s as if they are robbing from my own pocket. “I will protect myself, if necessary, but I have not needed to for a long time.”

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.