Kindness plea as Hull retail staff face abuse
SHOPPING BEHAVIOUR WARNING
CHRISTMAS and Black Friday shoppers have been told to be mindful of their behaviour this year as a growing number of retail workers are facing abuse and even attacks.
Customers are being urged to “shop kind” this year amid more and more incidents of anger boiling over and resulting in abuse.
It comes as national polling reveals that more than a third (38 per cent) of people report having witnessed abuse and even violence against shopworkers.
The latest retail industry data suggests that 450 staff are abused each day, although these numbers are likely to rise during the festive season and more people hit the high street.
Hull-based Heron Foods said many workers were facing vitriol, aggression and even physical abuse on the regular.
The company’s managing director Tony Dobbs said: “This is an issue close to our hearts as many of our staff have to deal with abuse and worse on a daily basis.
“We have installed CCTV, staff safe and security guards into stores and are now working closely with, for example, Humberside Police on a reporting app making it easier to identify those stores in hot spot areas for particular preventative policing measures.
“We are committed to making our stores safer places to work.”
More than 86 per cent of shoppers recognise that shopworkers face a much higher workload during the Christmas period.
The #Shopkind campaign led by independent charity Crimestoppers and supported by retail union Usdaw is now urging the public to be mindful of shopworkers’ essential role serving the public, emphasising that workers should be treated with respect.
Gemma Gibbs, regional manager for Yorkshire and the Humber at the charity Crimestoppers, said: “Our high streets play a pivotal role in our communities across Yorkshire and while Christmas can have its own stresses, there is absolutely no excuse for violent or abusive behaviour towards workers.
“Please help us stamp out abuse and if you know who is responsible but want to stay anonymous, tell our charity what you know.”