Pharmacies in Southport were forced to shut their doors to the public last week after rioting left them “worried” for staff members, C+D has learned.
Last week (July 30), the BBC reported that rioters pelted a mosque with bricks, bottles and fireworks in the Merseyside town after a vigil to honour the victims of last Monday's knife attack at a dance school in which three young girls were killed.
CarePlus Chemist & Health Clinic, which is just a 20-minute walk from the dance school, told C+D yesterday (August 5) that it was “closed to the public” on Wednesday (July 31) because the team were not “comfortable with people coming in”.
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Pharmacy manager Alistair Fernley said that he had thought it “very likely” that the pharmacy would have been caught up in riots had it not closed.
“It was awful the whole week,” he told C+D.
He added that he “heard of further riots that were happening that day at the police station” and was “worried about the fact that [the pharmacy is] quite close to everything, being near town”.
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He said that he made the decision to close to the public on Wednesday morning “because [CarePlus’] pharmacist is Muslim [and] we weren't comfortable with what happened at the mosque”.
Fernley added that despite closing the shop front the pharmacy was “still here dispensing medication” and that “as long as everything stays as it currently is in Southport, then we don't have any future plans to close”.
Community Pharmacy Sefton told C+D that another local pharmacy called Pharmacy First, which is just a 12-minute walk from the dance school, also closed as a precaution.
Pharmacists “worried about their safety”
The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) has also “heard from a number of members worried about their safety commuting to or attending work today”, it told yesterday.
The union said that “those who are from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, and for example Hijab-wearing colleagues, feel particularly that they may be at risk both on their way to and from work, and in the pharmacy”.
“However, all pharmacists are concerned that they are safe at work and not at risk of getting caught in the middle of a riot,” it added.
Read more: ‘Pool of blood’: Half-naked man stages frenzied attack outside pharmacy
The PDA called for employers to adequately communicate “with those in locations where any conflict may occur” and prioritise staff and patient safety by “taking whatever measures necessary to keep them from harm”.
It said that “in the first instance”, PDA members “who are concerned about their safety” should engage with employers.
“Should they encounter any unreasonable lack of support from management, PDA members can contact the PDA member support centre for further advice,” it added.
“Appalled by the scenes of violence”
National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chief executive Paul Rees yesterday said that the body is “appalled by the scenes of violence and intimidation in so many parts of the country over the past few days”.
“Pharmacy contractors and their teams represent some of the most diverse communities of people delivering NHS services in this country,” he said, adding that “pharmacy teams are symbolic of modern Britain”.
“But like others in our communities, many will be starting this week fearful of what the next few days will hold...they shouldn’t have to fear attacks on places of worship, business or threats to people who look like them,” Rees said.
He added that the NPA is “immensely proud of the diversity of pharmacy contractors and their teams and stands shoulder to shoulder with them at this time of national crisis”.
Read more: Assault on retail workers to be made ‘standalone’ crime
Meanwhile this weekend (August 3), the Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists (GHP) posted on X (formerly Twitter) that it too is “appalled by the ongoing far-right riots”.
“We stand in solidarity with everyone, especially our pharmacy teams, affected by these incidents,” it said.
“We encourage colleagues to report any hateful or racist behaviour experienced at work,” it added.
Pharmacy organisations including the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) and the Association of Pharmacy Technicians UK (APTUK) also yesterday posted a joint statement saying they are “shocked by the violent public disorder”.
“We acknowledge how all sectors of the pharmacy profession may be impacted [and] we are united in having a zero tolerance of racism in whatever form it takes,” they added.
Read more: Sex crimes in pharmacies soar 55%
Back in April, the Home Office announced that “assaulting a retail worker” was set to be made “a standalone criminal offence”.
In March 2022, C+D’s crime in pharmacies investigation found that pharmacies endured a staggering 5,011 incidents of theft or shoplifting in 2021.
It also found that at least 1,437 reports of violent crimes in pharmacies were reported to the police in 2021, with violent crime accounting for 17.9% of all crimes in pharmacies reported in 2021.
And C+D also revealed in April that the number of sexual offences in pharmacies reported to UK police forces rose 55% in one year.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact Pharmacist Support by emailing info@pharmacistsupport.org or calling 0808 168 2233/0808 168 5133 for free
