New criminal offence needed to protect shop workers after ‘shocking increase’ in abuse, MPs say Lizzie Dearden Supermarket workers have reported a rise in assaults during the pandemic - AP A new criminal offence is needed to protect retail workers after a “shocking rise in attacks”, MPs have found. Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee said that crimes committed against sales assistants “must be treated with the same seriousness” as those on police and other emergency workers, which are punished under a dedicated law. A report published on Tuesday said the current police response to violence and abuse inside shops was inadequate, weakening the deterrent for criminals and leaving workers vulnerable.