Shopworkers face attacks and abuse

Call for action over 424 incidents a day

CRIME: The Government is being urged to do more to stem a rising tide of violence and abuse against shopworkers amid evidence that attacks are becoming more severe.

Figures show cases of violence, threats and even knives being produced against retail workers rose by nine per cent in one year.

THE GOVERNMENT is being urged to do more to stem a rising tide of violence and abuse against shopworkers amid evidence that attacks are becoming more severe.

Figures published today show cases of violence, threats and even knives being produced against retail workers rose by nine per cent in one year, with 424 incidents a day between 2018 and 2019.

The numbers have been highlighted in the report by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which has urged the Government to take action against the rising figures. The BRC said the confronting of shoplifters, challenging customers over age-restricted sales and intoxicated people were the most common triggers for violence.

The total cost of crime to the retail industry was £2.2bn last year, an increase of 16 per cent from the previous year (£1.9bn).

The BRC’s chief executive, Helen Dickinson, said: “These are not just statistics – these are real people who work hard for millions of customers every day. From abuse, to threats, to violence, those affected carry these experiences with them for a lifetime.

“The Government must help put an end to the scourge of retail crime. This means a stronger police response to criminal incidents, and new legislation to introduce tougher sentences for

those who assault retail workers. No one should have to go to work fearing violence or threats.”

In April last year, the Government called for retail companies to provide details of abuse faced by employees through a national survey.

The number for incidents of violence and abuse levelled at shop workers stood at just under 155,000 for the year 2018/2019, up from just under 142,000 from the year before.

The BRC report said: “Experiencing violence and abuse regularly places a heavy burden on our colleagues’ emotional and physical well-being, even when they are not the direct target.”

Incidents experienced by shop assistants included a manager who was assaulted by a shoplifter who claimed he had HIV and would infect him, as well as a known shoplifter being racially abusive to staff at another shop.

Dr. Emmeline Taylor, the director of research at the department of sociology at City, University of London, said: “Government action is urgently needed to reverse the impact that ten years of austerity has had on the retail industry and our communities. No level of violence is acceptable and particularly against people who are just going about their job.”

Last month, Alex Norris, the Labour MP for Nottingham North, told the House of Commons that retailers who had responded to the survey were still waiting for its findings to be published, as he claimed a staff member at his local Co-op had recently been “hit with a glass bottle”.

The Prime Minister suggested action would be taken, adding: “We should not tolerate crimes of violence against shopworkers or indeed anybody else.”

These are real people who work hard for millions of customers everyday.

Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium