Retail trade union Usdaw has launched shocking statistics from its annual survey during this year’s Respect for Shop Workers Week, which runs from November 11-17.
Usdaw members are raising awareness of the union’s year-round Freedom From Fear Campaign and talking to the public to promote a message of ‘respect for shop workers’.
Interim results from more than 4,000 retail staff responses show that in the last 12 months:
- 69% have experienced verbal abuse
- 45% were threatened by a customer
- 17% were assaulted
- 70% of these incidents were triggered by shoplifting and two-thirds of those were linked to addiction
Respondents from Cumbria said they had experienced “inappropriate touching” and “attempted bodily harm”, while shop workers in Cheshire had experienced customers threatening to beat them up, and one had their rib broken.
One Lancashire respondent said: “Threatening and abusive language was used by a customer whilst I was working on the self-checkout. I found it scary and intimidating.”
While another in Manchester said they had been threatened by a customer with a screwdriver.
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary said: “Shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive and these experiences from North West retail workers make very difficult reading. It is shocking that over two-thirds of our members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence.
“Seven in ten of these incidents were triggered by theft from shops, which is clearly the result of a 21% increase in police recorded shoplifting across the North West over the year to June. It has become increasingly common for retail stores to be targeted by organised crime gangs stealing to order in the midst of a retail crime epidemic.
“Our survey demonstrates that theft from shops is not a victimless crime, with incidents regularly being a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shop workers. Having to deal with repeated and persistent theft and even looting can cause issues beyond the incident itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers.
“Our members are reporting that they are often faced with hardened career criminals in their stores and much of the abuse they suffer is from those who are stealing to sell goods on, often to fund an addiction.
“The chancellor announced in the budget funding to tackle the organised criminals responsible for the increase in shoplifting, and the government has promised more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas. It is our hope that these new measures will help give shop workers the respect they deserve.
“This week, Usdaw activists will be campaigning in their workplaces and communities calling on the shopping public to ‘respect shop workers’ and ‘keep your cool’, particularly in the run-up to Christmas when the number of incidents increases as shops get busy and customers become frustrated. This is a hugely important issue for our members, and they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough.”
