Dishoom, Pho and Pizza Pilgrims join call for delivery drivers to be protected under new laws

Leaders at Dishoom, Pizza Pilgrims and Pho are among 30 restaurant and retail bosses who have written to the government calling for greater protection for delivery drivers.

The joint letter is part of Deliveroo’s ‘Right to Ride Safely’ campaign, which was launched after it saw a 28% rise in abusive incidents towards riders.

It comes as the Crime and Policing Bill, which includes greater protections for shopworkers, is put before parliament on Tuesday.

The Bill will create a specific offence for assaulting a shopworker and introduce harsher penalties for shoplifting items under £200.

Deliveroo is calling on the government to include hospitality settings in the definition of a ‘retail premises’ under the scope of the law.

Pizza Express, Morrisons, Wingstop, Bella Italia, and the letter’s other signatories said otherwise the Bill would stop short of protecting riders when they are on a delivery.

The group is calling on the government to protect riders for the entire duration of their trip until the order is dropped off at a customer’s house.

The letter reads: “Delivery riders, like those riding with Deliveroo, 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, ensure our customers receive the meals they love and play a vital role in boosting high streets and local economies.

“Yet, many of these dedicated and hard-working individuals are subjected to abuse while doing their job. Deliveroo has reported a 28% increase in abusive incidents toward riders. There are real people behind these numbers - people who face physical and verbal assault, racism, sexism and theft. It’s time for the government to act and send a clear message: abuse against delivery riders will not be tolerated.”

The Crime and Policing Bill comes amid a government push to crack down on anti-social behaviour.

In the year ending September 2024, police recorded one million incidents of antisocial behaviour. This included over 490,000 shop theft offences, an increase of 23%.

Further details of the bill will be set out in its first reading in parliament.