An MP hopeful has called on the government to take a tougher stance on retail crime and shopworker abuse as she vowed to fight the corner of city shops if elected.
Labour candidate for Norwich North, Alice Macdonald, was speaking at a Co-op store in Chartwell Road in Sprowston.
It comes after cases of shoplifting across the Fine City soared by more than 70pc in just one year.
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"It was good to meet staff from the Central Co-op today, but awful to hear about some of their experiences," she said.
"Retail crime is clearly having a shocking impact. No one should feel unsafe going to work.
"We need the government to act to keep our streets safe and protect shop workers."
Last month, the Co-op in Sprowston Road was forced to put olive oil bottles in security cases following a spate of thefts.
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Independent shops across the city also warned that Norwich is at risk of turning into the "wild west" if the police fail to do more to tackle shoplifting.
With reports that retail staff are being provided body cameras to help combat the rise in crime, Ms Macdonald also backed a call from the Union for Retailers (USDAW) to provide better protection for all shop workers.
"Labour is calling for stronger action against abuse of shop workers including on sentencing," she said.
"We will also restore neighbourhood policing and town centre patrols with 13,000 more officers and police community support officers.”
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Nationally, the Co-op group has seen more than 1,000 cases per day of shoplifting, assaults and anti-social behaviour in the last six months to June.
But Norfolk police has defended its record, saying last week that the constabulary has the highest detection rate of any constabulary in the country, with a spokesman insisting: "Our priority has and will always be to catch those responsible for committing crimes."
Adam Waudby, head of retail operations at Central Co-op, said: "Ensuring our colleagues return home safely each day is our highest priority and we continue to invest in measures to protect them.
"However, we also need the police to prioritise these offences and improve their response to incidents.
"We’re not talking about victimless crimes here, we see the lasting impact of these terrible incidents on our colleagues, members and customers so we’re committed to working with the government and local law enforcement to bring about meaningful change.”
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