DELIVEROO LAUNCHES ‘RIGHT TO RIDE SAFELY’ CAMPAIGN CALLING ON GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT DELIVERY RIDERS

• Deliveroo has launched the 'Right to Ride Safely' campaign, calling on the Government to include better protections for delivery riders in its upcoming Crime & Policing Bill
• The Bill, as it was set out in the King's Speech, will protect retail workers but stops short of safeguarding delivery riders, who are so important to the retail and hospitality sectors. The move comes in response to a 28% increase in abusive incidents towards riders in the last six months.
• Deliveroo's proposals are backed by the GMB Union and the British Retail Consortium and the company is calling on industry peers and other trade bodies to join the campaign.
  
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Tuesday, 19th November: Deliveroo has today launched the 'Right to Ride Safely' campaign calling on the Government to include better protections for delivery riders in its upcoming Crime & Policing Bill. The campaign has been backed by GMB, one of the UK's largest unions, and the British Retail Consortium, and the proposals would safeguard the hundreds of thousands of couriers who ride with Deliveroo and other delivery companies.

The Government has committed to creating a standalone offence of assaulting or threatening a retail worker when they're at their place of work, but the Crime & Policing Bill in its current form stops short of specifically protecting delivery riders when they are on delivery.

Deliveroo is calling on the Government to extend the scope of the offence so it applies for the entire duration of delivery from accepting the order, travelling to collect it and through to consumer drop-off. Deliveroo is also calling on the Government to make clear in the legislation that restaurants and other hospitality settings are included in the definition of a retail premise.

Delivery riders are crucial to the UK high street and local economies, they help connect local businesses to new customers, support our retail and hospitality sectors and drive greater consumer spending. They deserve to feel safe while they work, whether that is driving to a restaurant, on the way to a consumer with the delivery, or at the consumer's address.

New figures released by Deliveroo show in the last six months there has been a 28% increase in the total number of abusive incidents towards riders when compared to the six months prior. This includes verbal abuse, reports of racism and sexism and illegal activity such as theft of an order, a rider's vehicle, or their delivery equipment.

Deliveroo has also received concerning reports about riders who have been threatened or assaulted. This includes a rider who was threatened when asking a customer for ID, a rider who was assaulted by someone who was under the influence, and riders who have had their orders or bikes stolen.

Deliveroo rider Rolston Williams, 58, from Nottinghamshire, has experienced verbal abuse and threats of physical assaults on customers' doorsteps, particularly when asking for proof of ID for alcohol deliveries.

Rolston, who rides for Deliveroo said: " "I shouldn't have to worry about my own safety when I'm trying to earn a living, yet I do. Those who are guilty of threatening people who are just doing their job should face repercussions, and the Government needs to take the threats we face seriously."

Emiliana has been riding for Deliveroo in Kent since 2018. She has had two motorcycles stolen over that time. She was also assaulted by some teenagers when she was riding down the street, who threw milkshakes over her which landed on her helmet, visor, hair, bike and clothes. She was hurt and shocked by the incident and had to stop her bike immediately to avoid crashing, and as her clothes were soaked, she had to return home to wash before she was able to continue to work. She reported the incident to the police.

Camilla Kater, SVP of Rider & Care at Deliveroo, said: "No one should feel unsafe while working. Riders play an invaluable role in their local communities and including protections for delivery riders in the Bill will send the strongest signal that we all value them and that these crimes will not be tolerated. Let's give delivery riders the respect they deserve.

"Together with the GMB, we're urging the Government to take action. We also call on other food delivery companies, along with the restaurant and retail partners who depend on delivery couriers, to back the Right to Ride Safely campaign."

The GMB Union has backed the plans and, since it signed an industry-first union recognition agreement with Deliveroo, has been working collaboratively to support and represent riders. This includes launching a landmark Respect Charter earlier this year, pledging positive relationships between riders and restaurants, which was also signed by 30 national restaurant chains including Wagamama, Wingstop and Bella Italia and big-name supermarkets such as The Co-op, and Whole Foods.

Deliveroo also has a number of existing partnerships and processes in place to protect riders, including free access to the Flare app so they can report incidents or discreetly call for help, the ability to block consumers who behave threateningly, and riders can "unassign" from an order at any point and not deliver it - without consequence - if they feel unsafe.

Anneliese Midgley, Labour MP for Knowsley, said: "Delivery riders are a vital part of our local economies, connecting small businesses with their communities and helping retail and hospitality sectors thrive. But unfortunately, they face unacceptable abuse for simply doing their job. The Labour Government is committed to protecting workers and is right to be creating a standalone offence of assaulting or threatening those who work in retail, but the Crime & Policing Bill must go further to protect delivery riders and reflect the value they bring to society.

"That is why I'm proud to be backing Deliveroo's 'Right to Ride Safely' campaign alongside the GMB and British Retail Consortium to create a safer, more respectful environment for the delivery riders so many of us rely on every day."

Anneliese Midgley, Labour MP for Knowsley, said: "Delivery drivers do a difficult job. They are often on the frontline and bear the brunt of public anger when things go wrong. It's only right they are given the same, long overdue protections which are now being offered to retail workers."

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said: "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. Our own statistics show that there are 1,300 incidents of violence and abuse every single day in retail.

"These confrontations, whether it is verbal abuse or physical assault, can take a huge toll on victims. And we all know the impact does not stop there - it affects their colleagues, friends, and the family they go home to. Government must ensure the new standalone offence applies to everyone working in consumer-facing roles in retail, not just those working in physical stores."

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