24 April 2015

Usdaw surveyed 5,000 shop workers as part of its Freedom From Fear campaign.

On average 241 shop worked were assaulted; a third were threatened by customers and more than half were verbally abused.

“Our survey shows that life on the front-line of retail can be pretty tough for many shop workers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them,” said Usdaw general secretary John Hannett.

“We welcome Labour’s manifesto commitment to ensure staff who work with the public are given greater protection, with tougher penalties for those who assault them.

“Retail crime remains too high and there needs to be action to protect shop workers.”

During the last parliament, Conservative and Lib Dem MPs repeatedly blocked legislation that would have made the penalties for those who assault shop workers more severe.