Overview
- A Usdaw interim survey of 2,000 retail staff found almost half had been threatened by a customer, more than two-thirds suffered verbal abuse, and about one in eight had been physically assaulted.
- Anonymous shop workers told reporters they faced threats with knives, were spat at after refusing service, and endured repeated verbal aggression during thefts and busy shifts.
- Usdaw said recorded incidents have shown a slight overall decline but that violent incidents are increasing in severity and some thefts are now being logged as robbery.
- Respect Week was launched by Usdaw together with the Retail Trust, the Association of Convenience Stores and the National Business Crime Centre to promote better public behaviour and worker support.
- Government and policing action include targeted retail-crime projects linked to fewer thefts and a recent law creating a standalone offence for assaulting retail workers, but unions warn repeated abuse is still damaging morale and driving staff from the sector.