Safety concerns are top of a mind for one retail representative, at news the Government is proposing to loosen citizen arrest laws.  

The measure is being pitched as a remedy for retail crime, by allowing workers and the public to detain suspected thieves with "reasonable force". 

But Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young told Andrew Dickens it's dangerous, especially when many retailers are so young.  

Young says they fear it will create situations where offenders will arm themselves more out of fear of being restrained.   

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