- Cook Government supports shopping centre, grocery and liquor
store staff
- Legislation deterring repeat shoplifters and retail worker
assaults now in effect
- Serial shoplifters face jail under new laws targeting repeat
offenders
- Up to 10 years behind bars for violent attackers who target
retail staff
Significantly increased
penalties now apply to violent attackers who target retail workers simply doing
their job.
A new 'assault retail workers' offence is in effect, seeing
individuals who attack staff in
the course of their duties face up to seven years in prison, or three years and
a fine of $36,000.
The tougher sentencing options are notably higher than the previous
penalties of 18 months behind bars and a fine of $18,000.
If a violent offender is armed or in the company of others, the penalty rises
to a maximum 10 years' imprisonment.
Repeat offenders charged
with multiple low level stealing offences also face potential jail time after
the Cook Government sentencing reform removed the 'fine only' penalty limit for those
convicted of stealing, or attempted stealing, when they have two or more prior
convictions for similar crimes in the past year.
Serial thieves will instead be subject to a
maximum penalty of two years imprisonment and $24,000 when dealt with summarily.
Last year, a national survey by the Shop, Distributive and Allied
Employees' Association (SDA) of its members, which attracted 4,600 responses,
revealed reports of physical violence increased by 56 per cent when compared to
two years prior.
The higher penalties for repeat and violent offenders
provide additional deterrence for those who look to intimidate, hurt or exploit
retailers and those working in the sector.
Comments attributed to Police Minister Paul Papalia:
"Just like other Western
Australians, retail workers have every right to feel safe in their workplace.
"These tougher penalties send a strong message that violent behaviour
towards staff simply doing their job won't be tolerated.
"WA Police do an incredible job tracking down shoplifters and holding
them to account but some serial offenders don't get the message. Under these
new laws, if shoplifters continue to disregard the law they will go to prison."
Comments attributed to Attorney General John Quigley:
"The Cook Government
doesn't tolerate cowardly acts of violence against retail workers.
"The retail sector plays
a crucial part in WA's economy and staff shouldn't be threatened or subjected
to acts of violence in their workplace.
"These reforms ensure our
justice system has the power to reflect community expectations and imposes appropriate
penalties for these types of crimes."
