This week marks a major milestone in the fight against retail crime, with Workplace Protection Orders (WPOs) officially commencing in South Australia — providing retailers and workers with powerful new legal tools to protect staff and customers from violent and abusive offenders from Whyalla to Cooper Pedy and Adelaide.
The Australian Retail Council (ARC) said South Australia has now established the gold standard for tackling retail crime, combining Workplace Protection Orders with a dedicated retail crime taskforce, Operation Measure, to directly target repeat offenders who cause serious harm in shops and supermarkets.
Workplace Protection Orders allow courts to bar individuals who engage in violent or threatening behaviour from returning to specific businesses for up to 12 months, with serious penalties for breaches. Individuals who breach an order could face up to two years in jail or up to five years for breaches involving personal violence.
ARC CEO Chris Rodwell said the commencement of the scheme represents a major step forward for frontline retail worker safety.
“It’s the the beginning of a new era for retail worker safety in South Australia. Workplace Protection Orders give retailers and authorities a practical, enforceable tool to stop repeat offenders returning to stores where they have threatened, abused or assaulted staff.”
“Retail workers deserve to feel safe at work. These orders provide a clear mechanism to keep violent and abusive offenders out of stores and away from retail workers.”
Mr Rodwell said South Australia’s comprehensive approach demonstrates how governments can effectively respond to escalating retail crime.
“South Australia has set the benchmark nationally. With Workplace Protection Orders now in force and a dedicated retail crime taskforce through Operation Measure, the state has built one of the most comprehensive frameworks in the country to tackle retail crime.”
“These measures recognise the reality that retail crime is increasingly driven by a relatively small number of repeat, high-harm offenders. Giving retail businesses and police the tools to keep those individuals away from stores is critical to protecting workers and customers.”
Mr Rodwell said the ARC hopes other states and territories follow South Australia’s lead.
“Retail crime is a national challenge, and South Australia has shown what continued, strong leadership looks like. South Australia and the ACT are currently the only jurisdictions to have implemented Workplace Protection Orders as part of a comprehensive response to retail crime that explicitly targets repeat offenders,” he said.
“Other states and territories should move quickly to introduce similar measures so retail workers across the country have access to the same protections.”
ARC will continue working with governments across Australia to strengthen protections for retail workers and ensure consistent national frameworks to combat retail crime.