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 Home Campaigns Freedom From Fear Further Information
Report paints a violent picture
17 December 2007
Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear campaign is as relevant now as it was when it was first launched five years ago, says general secretary John Hannett.
This follows the latest report into retail violence which showed a 50 per cent rise in physical assaults and a 128 per cent rise in the number of threats. The level of verbal abuse showed a slight fall.
"When we began the Freedom From Fear campaign our aims were clear," said John. "We wanted to minimise the risks to shop staff of all types of abuse; we wanted to convince employers to take this issue more seriously; and we wanted the police and local authorities to give retail crime the importance it deserves.
"I think we have had some success on all of these issues but clearly there is still a lot to do. We have raised the profile of this important issue both locally, regionally and nationally through our annual Respect Day which has won the support of hundreds of MPs and tens of thousands of shoppers and staff.
"We will continue to work with employers, staff, local authorities, the Government and the police to promote local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships which aim to cut crime and anti-social behaviour in the retail sector.
"We are pleased the BRC's Kevin Hawkins agrees with us that behind these alarming figures there is individual human pain and distress. It is totally unacceptable."
The BRC's report also revealed:
- Verbal abuse made up
51 per cent of the total incidents.
- Threats of violence amounted
to 33 per cent.
- Physical violence made up 16 per cent of all incidents against staff.
- There were 219 incidents per 100 outlets compared to 185 for the previous year.
- For the second consecutive year, the level of verbal abuse has shown a fall, although this might be explained by a reluctance to report these types of incidents.
John Hannett added: "We want local partnerships of retailers, shopworkers, councils and police to work together to rid our shops and shopping areas of this criminal and anti-social behaviour.
"This not only affects retailers and staff, but customers and the wider community as well which makes it all the more important that we work together.
"Shopworkers deserve respect and should be able to go to work without the fear of violence and abuse. Our campaign will continue."
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