Co-op joins the fight to protect shop workers

A campaign for a new law to protect shop workers from attacks has been stepped up after a leading company revealed high levels of abuse against its staff during the coronavirus crisis.

The Co-op said its research suggests one in five customers has admitted being aggressive or abusive towards a shop worker over the past eight months – even though most people feel retail staff have provided an essential service during the pandemic.

The Co-op said one in four of its frontline shop workers has suffered violence, abuse and anti-social behaviour, with a 36% increase in incidents so far this year compared to the same period in 2019 - an average of around 730 a day.

Almost a quarter of aggressive customers said frustrations caused by panic-buying had caused them to lash out at store staff.

A n A s s au l t s o n R et a i l Workers Bill – which will introduce a specific law covering attacks and abuse of retail staff – is due to get its second hearing in Parliament next year,

Jo Whitfield, chief executive of Co-op Retail, said: "It's encouraging that most people recognise the essential role that shop workers have played over recent months but one in five people being aggressive or abusive is still one too many and store staff deserve better.

"Everybody understands how challenging 2020 has been but our message remains clear.

"A b u s e a n d v i o l e n c e against shop workers should not be tolerated in today's society and we will do everything in our power to ensure the Government puts greater legal protection in place so they can feel safer when they go into work."