Woolworths is calling on the Government to implement tougher changes amid an increase in retail crime.

The retailer says physical assaults on staff jumped 50 percent in the past year, with 329 incidents against 219 from the year before.

Security Association Chief Executive Gary Morrison says the current trespass laws need updating to protect workers.

"It's not just trespass rules, we're talking about citizen's arrest, we're talking about breach of the peace, etc. So there's other opportunities there... we're in discussion with Minister Mark Mitchell about the same issues."

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