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Government praise for campaign against violence and abuse of shopworkers
04 March 2004
Home Office Minister Hazel Blears has praised a campaign by trade union Usdaw to prevent violence and abuse of shopworkers across the UK.
The Labour MP for Salford said the Government welcomes Usdaw's Freedom From Fear campaign as it raises awareness of an important issue.
Retail industry figures reveal that there have been over one million incidents of violence, threats or abuse against shopworkers in the UK since 1995. While staggering, these figures are acknowledged as being only the tip of the iceberg. Many incidents go unreported by shopworkers who regrettably see them as normal, everyday occurrences.
Helen Jones, Labour MP for Warrington North, tabled a question to the Home Office asking for details on any recent discussions undertaken by the Government on measures to protect shopworkers from such high levels of violence.
Hazel Blears, the minister with responsibility for crime reduction, replied: "Any form of violence is totally unacceptable and must be dealt with accordingly. I fully understand the detrimental and damaging effect that crime against business has on the community." She added: "The Government welcomes the work Usdaw has undertaken through its Freedom From Fear campaign to raise awareness of violence against shopworkers."
Hazel Blears said the Government was tackling the issue by various means. It had provided funds for training seminars for small retailers, encouraged employers to manage the issue of work-related violence in the same way as any health and safety issue and developed the use and scope of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs).
Usdaw is the UK's fifth largest trade union, with over 330,000 members. The union's Freedom From Fear campaign aims to raise awareness of the alarming levels of violence and abuse of shopworkers and make the retail workplace safer.
John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary Elect, said: "Violence and abuse is a major issue in the retail sector. It should not and will not be tolerated. Usdaw's campaign is making more and more people aware of the problem and is making a real difference in many workplaces."
- For Usdaw press releases, statistics and background information on the campaign, visit Freedom From Fear.
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