In the last few years, there has been a significant increase in violent crime and abuse against retail workers. While incidents spiked during Covid, they remain above pre-pandemic levels, driven in part by an epidemic of theft from shops. Interim results from our 2023 annual survey of members shows that two-thirds of shopworkers were verbally abused far too many suffer threats and assaults.
 
Young voices from the frontline: Comments from shopworkers under the age of 27 when responding to our latest survey:

• “Packets of mincemeat thrown at me, customer backed me into corner refusing to move and spat at me.”
• “Threats of violence from shoplifters when caught out, I’ve been told I’d be stabbed after my shift, threatened to be followed home etc.”
• “Ageist comments towards me, regarding my competence just due to my age. Abusive language that is sexually explicit.”
• “Being touched inappropriately by a drunk customer. Having a man joke about stalking me.”
• “Comments about my weight, swearing and general rudeness. A regular makes me feel uncomfortable, he comments about my looks eg beautiful.”
• “Opinions about my sexual preference and my appearance. Constantly told I am stupid, can't do my job, They are going to get me fired.”
• “Customer said inappropriate things to me, said they liked my hair then pulled it. Threatened to rape me when I denied him cigarettes without ID.”
• “Making sexual comments and advances, trying to initiate physical contact, asking me about my fetishes and if I was into being tied up.”
• “Drunks issuing abuse, vague threats, personal insults, returning at a later date despite knowing they are barred.”
• “Punched by a drunk well known shoplifter for politely telling them to leave. He then proceeded to throw things around the shop before leaving.”
• “Screamed at and verbally abused by so many customers and so often. I have anxiety and nightmares about going to work. I feel scared when I'm working.”
• “Males in particular trying to get us to go against and get us fired, suggesting I must obey them and that I'm there to serve - throwing items when refused.” 

Paddy Lillis, General Secretary of Usdaw, says: “It is heartbreaking to hear the experiences of these young workers, who deserve far more respect than they receive. While violence, threats and abuse impacts workers of all ages, there is no doubt that there young shopworkers face particular issues. They often work late shifts and weekends, when they are more likely to have to deal with drunk customers and suffer higher levels of abuse. They are often belittled because of their age and customers feel they can bully them. Young women particularly suffer appalling sexual harassment, physical abuse and unwelcome sexualised comments.
 
“Much more needs to be done to protect shopworkers. The UK Government has repeatedly failed to act in the face of an epidemic of retail crime, rising theft from shops and assaults against retail workers. It is disappointing that they have no measures in their legislative programme to tackle this issue. We support Labour’s attempts to amend the Government’s Criminal Justice Bill, so that the law is strengthened to protect shopworkers from violence, threats and abuse.
 
“A protection of shopworkers law is also supported by many retailers. It already exists in Scotland and has secured over 500 convictions. We also welcome Labour’s commitments to 13,000 more neighbourhood police with guaranteed patrols in town centres, respect orders to ban repeat offenders and ending the £200 threshold for investigating and prosecuting shop theft. Labour is clearly offering the change our members need.” 
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
 
Usdaw’s Freedom from Fear Campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against workers by engaging the public, shopworkers and the Government.
www.usdaw.org.uk/Campaigns/Freedom-From-Fear
 
Interim results of Usdaw’s 2023 survey, based on 3,082 responses, show that: 65.44% were verbally abused, 42.74% were threatened. 17.52% shopworkers had been assaulted during their career. 4.81% had been assaulted this year. Of those who were abused, threatened or assaulted, 59.71% said that shoplifting and armed robbery was the trigger. The final results of the survey will be published this month.
 
Criminal Justice Bill 2023: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3511
 
Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021: www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2021/6
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion