Rachel Hopkins MP (Labour, Luton South and South Bedfordshire) asked: “Too many retail workers face terrible threats and abuse in the workplace. Will the Leader of the House join me in supporting the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers’ Respect for Shop Workers Week this week and its “Freedom from Fear” campaign to ensure that all retail workers feel safe at work?”
Sir Alan Campbell MP – Leader of the House of Commons responded: “I join in supporting and praising Usdaw’s powerful campaign over a long period of time, because it is vital that hard-working retail staff are treated with respect. That is one of the reasons why we are taking action through our Crime and Policing Bill to safeguard staff from assault.”
Joanne Thomas – Usdaw general secretary says: “We welcome the ongoing support our members receive from Labour MPs and the Government in tackling the scourge of violence, threats and abuse against retail workers. This year’s annual survey interim results show a slight downturn in the level of incidents retail workers are experiencing while doing their jobs. However, it remains shocking that nearly three-quarters of those working in retail are regularly facing abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence.
“In the last twelve months, the Government has invested in policing, with specific projects to tackle retail crime, and that appears to be having an effect. We welcomed this summer’s town centre crime blitz in over 600 locations, and that it will be repeated this winter. We know that it will take time to turn around 14 years of Conservative police cuts, and the scale of the problem means we also need legislation.
“So Labour’s Crime and Policing Bill is welcome. This new legislation will deliver a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law; end the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; along with Criminal Behaviour Orders. The Chancellor announced funding to tackle the organised criminals responsible for the increase in shoplifting, and the Government has promised more uniformed officer patrols in shopping areas. It is our hope that these new measures will continue a downward trend in incidents.”
The exchange comes in the week that Usdaw launched shocking statistics from its annual survey at the beginning of this year’s Respect Week. Results show unacceptable levels of verbal abuse, threats and assaults against retail staff.
Interim results from over 3,000 retail staff responses show that in the last twelve months (change from last year):
• 71% (-6) have experienced verbal abuse.
• 48% (-5) were threatened by a customer.
• 9% (-1) were assaulted.
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
Interim results of the Usdaw’s 2025 survey based on 3,271 responses from retail workers show that in the last 12 months: 71% were verbally abused, 48% were threatened and 9% had been assaulted. The final results of the survey will be published in March 2026.
Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear Campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against workers by engaging the public, shop workers and the Government. www.usdaw.org.uk/Campaigns/Freedom-From-Fear
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion