Retail crime falls but Usdaw reaffirms that abuse is not part of the job

Shopworkers union Usdaw has given a cautious welcome to the latest retail crime figures which show a fall in the number of attacks, threats and abuse against staff, but warned that this may reflect employees’ reluctance to report ‘commonplace’ incidents of abuse.

While the British Retail Consortium’s annual crime survey reported a fall across all three categories, this still meant that at least 72,900 shopworkers were subject to violence, threats or verbal abuse during last year.

In 2005 there were 10,800 reported incidents of violence against staff, 18,900 workers were threatened and 43,200 were verbally abused. This compares with 21,550, 51,300, and 83,700 for 2004 (Total 156,550 incidents). In 2003 (the worst year) the figures were 18,900, 126,900, and 62,100, respectively (Total 207,900).

Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett said: “This issue has been top of our agenda since we launched our Freedom From Fear campaign in 2002 and it’s fair to say that employers, employees, local authorities and the Government have listened to our concerns. We also want to see the police take a more rigorous approach to retail crime.

“Retail crime is not a victimless crime. Some of our members have been beaten by violent robbers; aggressive shoplifters are threatening and traumatising staff, and impatient customers think it acceptable to scream and shout at staff for the most trivial of matters. No worker should have to put up with any of this.

“What is particularly worrying is that many workers don’t report verbal abuse because it has become so frequent. It’s as if staff think it is part and parcel of the job when in fact it certainly is not.

“It’s no time for complacency, but we are optimistic that when all interested parties work together we can minimise the risks to shopworkers and make the retail environment safer for both staff and customers. I’m confident our Freedom From Fear campaign has played an important part in making shopworkers safer.”

Notes to Editors:

The Freedom From Fear campaign has had a local, regional and a national impact. Usdaw has raised the profile of the issue with regular annual events, published a comprehensive range of promotional material and won widespread support from union members and the shopping public.

Here are just a few examples of Usdaw standing up for retail workers.

• 12 July 2006 issued symbolic Red Cards urging shopworkers to give abuse the red card.
• 2005 launched its national NO ID NO SALE campaign, which supports the introduction of a compulsory proof of age scheme to prevent under-age sales – often a flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers.
• 2004. Stepped up its campaign after the Retail Crime Survey revealed a big jump in all three categories for 2003.
• 2003. Handed in a petition with 100,000 signatures to 10 Downing Street calling on the Government to improve safety for retail staff.
• 2002. Launched the campaign with a call to employers, the police, local authorities and the Government to work together to rid the high street of violence and abuse.
• Usdaw has recovered more than £1.5 million for its members over the last five years under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority scheme.

More information at: www.usdaw.org.uk/campaigns/freedom_from_fear/

Recent examples:

• A 36 year-old mother was left traumatised during a violent robbery. The attacker threatened the assistant and said: “I know where you live and I’ll kill you.”
• A 19 year-old woman subjected to an armed robbery was left ‘shaking and terrified’ when working in a small convenience store.
• A 52 year-old man was attacked by a shoplifter and badly beaten.

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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