Usdaw says stores should be smack-free zones but shopworkers can’t be expected to police customers smacking children

Retail union Usdaw welcomes an NSPCC survey that found the vast majority of UK’s shoppers want stores to be smack-free zones but says union members shouldn't be expected to police customers who do smack their children.

The NSPCC survey found 93% of respondents wanted stores to take action to help parents avoid losing their cool with their children and 41% had seen a child smacked in public within the last six months.

“Usdaw has real concerns that shop staff shouldn’t be called upon to police a volatile situation where children are being smacked,” says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “It is likely that the sort of customers who smack their children in public would have little hesitation in assaulting our members if they tried to intervene to calm the situation down.

“Although smacking in public is very distressing for the child, our members and other customers say it is only illegal if a mark is left on the child and our members cannot be expected to determine if a smacking incident is breaking the law.

“But we do welcome the NSPCC recognising that shopping with a young child can be stressful and the good work the majority of retailers have done to make their stores much more child friendly thus reducing the stress on parents.”

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail paul.clarke@usdaw.org.uk.
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fifth biggest trade union, with over 340,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Journalists can subscribe to receive Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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