Retail workers across England and Wales are set to receive significant new legal protections following the enactment of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which aims to tackle a rising tide of violence and theft on the high street.
The legislation, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, introduces a standalone criminal offence for the assault of a retail worker. It comes in response to industry-wide reports of staff being spat at, wrestled, and verbally abused while performing their duties.
The new law carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and an unlimited fine. By creating a specific offence, the government aims to ensure that violence against shop staff is recorded more accurately by police and treated with greater severity by the courts.
Ending the ‘Low-Value’ Theft Threshold
A pivotal change in the new Act is the repeal of Section 22A of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980. This previously allowed shop theft of goods valued at £200 or less to be treated as a “summary-only” offence, which critics argued led to a perceived “immunity” for thieves and a lower police response rate for smaller thefts.
The removal of this threshold means that all shoplifting incidents, regardless of the monetary value of the items stolen, can now be prosecuted with the same weight. Retailers have long campaigned for this change, arguing that the £200 rule encouraged repeat offenders to target shops frequently while staying under the limit to avoid serious legal consequences.
Survey Reveals Scale of Abuse
The legislative shift follows sobering data from the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW). Their March 2026 “Freedom From Fear” survey revealed that 78% of retail workers reported being verbally abused in the 12 months leading to December 2025.
The data further showed that 11% of retail staff were physically assaulted during the same period. Union leaders have noted that violence levels remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic figures, with staff often facing aggression when challenged over age-restricted sales or suspected theft.
Respect Orders and Implementation
Further powers are expected to become available later this year. “Respect Orders,” designed to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour that often precedes physical violence, are scheduled to be introduced from 26 October 2026.
While the Crime and Policing Act 2026 applies to England and Wales, similar protections have existed in Scotland since 2021 under the Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act.
Retailers are now being encouraged to ensure all incidents—including verbal abuse and “low-value” thefts—are reported to the police to build the necessary evidence base for the new Respect Orders to be effective.
