Shop workers being abused ‘weekly’

Shop workers have been verbally abused, threatened or assaulted every week during the coronavirus crisis, according to "shocking" new research.

A survey by the shop workers union Usdaw suggested that reported incidents have doubled in the past month – up from once a fortnight last year.

One in six of the almost 5,000 workers surveyed said they had been abused on every shift.

Almost two out of three of those questioned said they had suffered verbal abuse and around a third had been threatened by a customer.

The union said four per cent had been assaulted, which, it estimated, amounts to more than 3,500 every day when averaged across all retail workers.

General secretary Paddy Lillis said: "We are shocked that violence, threats and abuse have doubled during this national emergency.

"At a time when we should all be working together to get through this crisis, it is a national disgrace that people working to keep food on the shelves for their local communities are being abused and assaulted.”

He added: "Shop workers are providing an essential service in very difficult circumstances, working long hours in busy stores, facing abuse from customers and of course concerned they may contract COVID-19.

"The safety of our members is absolutely paramount, but they tell us that some of the shopping public are resisting social distancing measures in stores and can become abusive when asked to queue and maintain a two-metre gap. We want the Government to legislate for stiffer penalties for those who assault workers.”