A shopping and leisure destination on the south coast has joined forces with a retail industry charity to combat growing levels of mistreatment experienced by employees in the sector.
Brighton Marina has partnered with the Retail Trust as part of a broader initiative led by property company Landsec, which owns and manages the site.
The collaboration builds on a trial programme that ran during 2025 and is designed to assist retail workers, cleaning staff, security personnel and customer-facing teams in dealing with confrontational encounters.
Louise Taylor, who serves as centre director at Brighton Marina, explained that retail workers perform a vital function in animating the shopping destination and emphasised the importance of ensuring these staff members feel supported, appreciated and assured that their welfare and protection remain paramount.
She noted that the partnership with the Retail Trust and its associated campaign would provide employees with practical resources while fostering a workplace environment where mutual care becomes ingrained in daily operations.
The initiative offers complimentary training in conflict management and techniques to calm tense situations, helping retail personnel navigate difficult circumstances more effectively.
Landsec’s portfolio includes thirteen additional locations beyond Brighton Marina that will receive the expanded programme, with the rollout following positive outcomes from the initial pilot phase.
Research published in the British Retail Consortium’s 2026 Crime Report highlighted the scale of the problem, documenting over 1,600 violent or abusive incidents directed at retail employees on a daily basis.
Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, reported that staff who participated in the training described how instances of rude, thoughtless or aggressive conduct from customers frequently lingered with them well beyond their working hours, with many expressing particular anxiety about being filmed by shoppers or experiencing harassment away from their jobs.
He emphasised the organisation’s commitment to supporting retail workers through expanded training and resources while calling on the public to interact with store employees with greater consideration and courtesy.