Retail Industry Calls for Tougher Laws Amid Violent Shopping Centre Incidents

Shoppers walk past high-end brand stores in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 28, 2023. (Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times)

The retail industry is calling for stricter laws to prevent crime amid a wave of violent incidents at shopping centres.

The industry is concerned about violence, crime rings, and cyber attacks that are targeting retail stores around the country.

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and National Retail Association (NRA) are advocating for significant changes in Australia to protect workers and businesses.

The peak retail bodies want better relationships between the retail sector and police, more information sharing, and stronger laws and deterrents for offenders.

In addition, they emphasise the need to address the human impact of retail crime and increase the adoption of technology.

This call to action follows a spate of significant incidents at major Australian shopping centres in 2024, including individuals carrying knives.

In April this year, a knife-wielding man entered Sydney’s Westfield Bondi Junction Shopping Centre and killed six people.  Several others, including a baby, were injured in the stabbing rampage.

More recently, stores at a Melbourne shopping centre were forced to bolt their doors after three people were allegedly assaulted and threatened by a teen carrying a machete.

CEO of the Australian Retail Association, Paul Zahra, described retail crime as the industry’s most pressing issue.

“Retail crime has devastating impacts on businesses and their teams. It’s an issue that is multifaceted—with increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks, organised crime rings targeting retail stores, and violent confrontations that are taking an emotional toll on frontline workers,” he said.

“It’s something that keeps our retail leaders up at night as they fear for the safety of their staff.”

Mr. Zahra noted that while good progress has been made to provide legislative protection for frontline workers, this is not consistent across the country.

New laws have been introduced in South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory, while legislation has also been drafted in Tasmania and unveiled in Victoria.

“The coverage is not yet universal across Australia. We need to continue pushing for these laws because this type of aggressive behaviour isn’t tolerated in any other workplace and shouldn’t have to be tolerated by retail workers,” he said.

In NSW, the Parliament passed new laws in 2023 to punish individuals who assault retail workers.

The legislation created three new offences under the Crimes Act 1900, making it an offence to assault, throw a missile, stalk, harass, or intimidate a retail worker during their duty, even if no bodily harm is caused.

Police Need More Resources: National Retail Association

Lindsay Carroll, acting CEO of the National Retail Association, said research shows stricter laws create safer working and shopping environments.

“However, police need more resources to act on aggressive individuals effectively, and retailers need to increase their reporting of these incidents to police,” she said.

“Our sector has been working with landlords, industry experts, government, and unions to support impacted businesses and the excellent work of the police across the country.”

On July 18, leading experts gathered in Melbourne for a Retail Crime Symposium to combat retail crime, worker assaults, and organised crime in stores and online environments.

Ms. Carroll said now is the time for governments, law enforcement and retailers to tackle an issue that is costing the economy, consumers and business owners.

She expressed hope that the symposium would create a pathway for action, ensuring that data and reporting mechanisms accurately reflect the heightened rates of aggressive behaviour.

“The 2024 Retail Crime Symposium gives us the opportunity to present a united stance against the issues that are most important for our sector right now, including the need to address the behaviour of aggressive individuals and demonstrate there are consequences for their actions,” Ms. Carroll said.

Melbourne Shopping Centre Faces ‘Machete’ Threat

Recently, Victorian Police arrested a man following an alleged assault at a shopping centre in Frankston on July 16. Another alleged offender fled the scene.

Three victims received minor injuries, according to the police, but they did not require any treatment.

“It is understood two male offenders assaulted three victims inside the centre on Beach Street about 10.50 a.m,” police said in a statement.

“During the incident, it is believed one boy brandished an edged weapon before cutting his own hand and fleeing the scene on foot.”

Multiple staff told media they did not feel safe following the incident, noting crime had increased in the last year.

“No matter what you are doing and who you are, you are in the firing line, and it is terrifying,” one retail worker said.