Retailers have applauded plans to introduce a new bill into South Australian Parliament to establish Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs), giving police and courts stronger powers to keep repeat offenders out of retail stores.
Australian Retailers Association (ARA) CEO Chris Rodwell said the SA Government is setting the standard in leading the fight against retail crime.
“Too many retailers and their teams are exposed to abuse, assaults, threats and weapon-related incidents on a daily basis. On average, a violent or serious incident occurs every 5 minutes across Australian retail. It’s an awful situation for our retail workers, showing up to that daily threat,” he said.
“We’ve been advocating for WPOs nationwide to give retail businesses and police the power to respond quickly and effectively to abusive, violent or threatening individuals. Targeting repeat offenders is important, with research showing 10% of people commit around 60% of the retail crime offences.
“If passed, South Australia will join the ACT as the first jurisdictions to introduce this powerful worker protection mechanism. We hope their leadership will inspire the other states and territories to follow suit,” he said.
Similar to Domestic Violence Orders or Apprehended Violence Orders, WPOs bar violent or repeat offenders from re-entering shops and shopping centres for 12 months or more. Offenders who breach a WPO order could face up to five years in jail.
South Australia is leading the nation in its response to retail crime, with tough laws and dedicated police resources under ‘Operation Measure’ targeting retail crime and repeat offenders. As a result, retailers have seen a significant disruption to retail theft by addressing repeat and high-value offending.
The ARA and National Retail Association are also calling for harmonised national retail crime legislation in all states and territories, including tougher penalties for crimes committed in a retail setting, and the use of innovative technology – like facial recognition technology – to reduce the burden on retail teams and improve communication with police.
“With more than 1.4 million Australians working in the retail sector, with a high proportion of women and young people, it’s imperative we keep retail workers and the community safe from harm,” he said.