Xscape Yorkshire has partnered with the industry charity Retail Trust to help protect retail staff, security, and guest services teams from rising levels of workplace abuse and violence.
The initiative comes as owner and operator Landsec expands its Let’s Respect Retail campaign to 13 additional retail destinations across the UK following a pilot program in 2025. Staff at the Castleford leisure and retail complex will gain access to resilience and de-escalation training in addition to digital safety resources via the Landsec Protect app. The tools offer guidance on managing challenging customer interactions, antisocial behaviour, unauthorised filming, and post-shift safety.
The rollout follows figures from the British Retail Consortium’s 2026 Crime Report, which recorded over 1,600 daily incidents of violence and abuse against UK retail workers. The campaign also coincides with new measures under the Crime and Policing Act, which made assaulting a retail worker a standalone criminal offence in England and Wales.
“Every day, our colleagues play an essential role in bringing Xscape to life,” said Jason Warren, Centre Director at Xscape Yorkshire. “Working with the Retail Trust and the Let’s Respect Retail campaign gives our teams access to meaningful, practical support while also helping us build a culture where looking out for one another is part of everyday life.”
Visitors to Xscape Yorkshire will see Let’s Respect Retail signage across the site throughout 2026, promoting respectful behaviour toward staff.
Chris Brook-Carter, Chief Executive of the Retail Trust, added: “We’re working with Landsec to give thousands of staff working at its destinations more support while reminding millions of shoppers to treat everyone with respect.”
