"I have been held at gunpoint, spat at, called names" - shop workers in North West speak out about violence, threats and abuse
Retail trade union Usdaw has launched shocking statistics from its annual survey.
Last updated 12th Nov 2024
Shocking new stats have been revealed highlighting the amount of abuse shop workers are facing, with some saying they've faced threats with weapons and have been left in fear.
The figures, which found that nearly seven in ten workers experienced verbal abuse in the last year, were released by the Union Usdaw its annual survey during this year’s Respect for Shop Workers Week.
The members are raising awareness of the union’s year-round Freedom From Fear Campaign and talking to the public to promote a message of ‘respect for shop workers’.
Interim results from over 4,000 retail staff responses show that in the last twelve months:
69% have experienced verbal abuse.
45% were threatened by a customer.
17% were assaulted.
70% of these incidents were triggered by shoplifting and two-thirds of those were linked to addiction.
These are some of the anonymous comments North West shop workers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:
Cheshire: “I've had customers threaten to follow me home and others threaten to assault me.” - “Threatened to have head kicked in, punched and kicked in stomach, threatened with bottle, needles, rib broken, attempted punch in face.”
Lancashire: “As a shop worker I have been held at gunpoint, spat at, called names and had things thrown at me.” - “Threatening and abusive language was used by a customer whilst I was working on the self-checkout. I found it scary and intimidating.”
Manchester: “Verbal abuse from shoplifters, threatened by customer with a screwdriver” - “Followed to car by customer.” - “Had a bottle thrown at me. Been told they will be waiting for me to finish.” – “Life threats - weapons held at me.”
Merseyside: “Threatened by drunk customers wanting to buy more alcohol. Shoplifters threaten routinely.” - “Called stupid and get body shamed. Get called a bitch if I refuse a sale because a customer fails to provide proof of age.”
Usdaw General Secretary, Paddy Lillis says: “Shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive and these experiences from North West retail workers make very difficult reading.
"It is shocking that over two-thirds of our members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence.
"Seven in ten of these incidents were triggered by theft from shops, which is clearly the result of a 21% increase in police recorded shoplifting across the North West over the year to June.
"It has become increasingly common for retail stores to be targeted by organised crime gangs stealing to order in the midst of a retail crime epidemic.
“Our survey demonstrates that theft from shops is not a victimless crime, with incidents regularly being a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shop workers.
"Having to deal with repeated and persistent theft and even looting can cause issues beyond the incident itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers.
"Our members are reporting that they are often faced with hardened career criminals in their stores and much of the abuse they suffer is from those who are stealing to sell goods on, often to fund an addiction."