Restaurant Giants Demand Action: Protect Delivery Drivers from Rising Abuse

Leading restaurant and retail chains, including Dishoom, Pho, and Pizza Pilgrims, have urged the UK government to extend legal protections to delivery drivers, highlighting a 28% surge in abusive incidents. This call to action, aimed at safeguarding a vital cog in the hospitality and retail sectors, comes as the government prepares to debate the Crime and Policing Bill in Parliament.

The Crime and Policing Bill, introduced in early 2024, is part of the government's broader strategy to tackle rising crime rates and anti-social behaviour across England and Wales. With over 50 measures, including tougher penalties for knife crime and new powers for police to manage protests, the bill aims to restore public confidence in law enforcement. However, its provisions for retail workers—while a step forward—have been criticised for overlooking the unique risks faced by delivery drivers, who operate beyond the safety of shop walls.

The initiative is spearheaded by Deliveroo's 'Right to Ride Safely' campaign, which has rallied support from over 30 prominent businesses, including Pizza Express, Morrisons, and Wingstop. These industry leaders are pressing for amendments to the bill, which currently offers enhanced protections for shopworkers but fails to protect riders during deliveries.

The bill introduces a specific offence for assaulting shopworkers and imposes tougher penalties for shoplifting items valued under £200. While these measures aim to curb the rising tide of retail crime, they overlook the safety of delivery drivers, who encounter abuse ranging from verbal harassment to physical assault, racism, sexism, and theft while navigating streets to deliver meals to customers' doors. "I've been spat at, had my bike stolen, and faced racist slurs—all while just trying to deliver someone's dinner," says Ahmed, a Deliveroo rider in London. "It's not just about the money; it's about feeling safe on the job."

In a compelling joint letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the coalition of business leaders wrote: "Delivery riders are an essential lifeline for our industry, connecting our businesses to homes, workplaces, and communities nationwide. They help us keep the UK's hospitality and retail sectors thriving… Yet, many of these dedicated and hard-working individuals are subjected to abuse while doing their job." The letter underscores a critical gap in the legislation, noting that it fails to protect riders throughout their entire delivery journey—from picking up an order at a fish and chip shop or restaurant to dropping it off at a customer's doorstep.

The campaign's demands are twofold: to include hospitality settings like restaurants and takeaways in the bill's definition of 'retail premises' and to extend protections to cover the full scope of a rider's trip.

Stark statistics underscore the urgency of this plea. Police recorded over one million incidents of anti-social behaviour in the year ending September 2024, including a 23% rise in shop theft offences totalling more than 490,000 cases. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) reports that retail crime has spiralled, with customer theft losses hitting a record £2.2 billion and daily incidents of violence and abuse soaring by over 50% to more than 2,000. Delivery riders, often the unsung heroes of the high street, are caught in this wave of aggression, with Deliveroo noting a significant uptick in abuse over the past six months.

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, echoed the campaign's sentiments: "Delivery drivers are an essential part of everyday life, connecting communities and ensuring people receive the goods they rely on. What they have to face for simply doing their job is completely unacceptable." Her words resonate with business owners who see firsthand how integral these workers are to their bottom line and customer satisfaction.

The government has so far refused to budge. A Home Office spokesman stated, "Any form of abuse a worker may experience is unacceptable, and we would expect the police to take appropriate action where necessary." While this acknowledges the problem, it offers little reassurance to those in the hospitality sector awaiting concrete action as the bill progresses through Parliament.

Delivery services have become a lifeline, especially since the pandemic shifted dining habits, boosting demand for takeaways and home deliveries. Yet, as abuse against riders climbs, the question looms: can the industry continue to flourish if its workforce feels unprotected? The Crime and Policing Bill presents an opportunity to address this, but only if the government heeds the call to broaden its scope.

As Parliament debates the legislation, the hospitality and retail sectors—cornerstones of local economies—will be watching closely. Protecting delivery riders isn't just about justice; it's about preserving the resilience of businesses that feed communities and sustain livelihoods. "If we don't protect our delivery drivers, we risk losing the backbone of our industry," warns Thom Elliot, co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims. "Without them, our businesses—and the communities we serve—will suffer."