Shop workers are urged to report every incident of abuse when it occurs by a campaign launched by the Home Office, retail businesses and retail membership bodies.
The aim; to challenge the perception that being subject to verbal abuse and aggressive behaviour is a normal part of working in retail. The Association of Convenience Stores’ 2019 Crime Report shows that 83pc of staff working in local shops have been subjected to verbal abuse within the past 12 months, while shop workers’ trade union USDAW’s 2018 survey of its members shows that 12pc, about one in eight, of shop workers have been physically assaulted in their career.
Retailers and their staff are being encouraged to #AlwaysReportAbuse, either to 999 in an emergency, to the non-emergency line 101 for other incidents, or to the charity Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555 111 or use the reporting tool online, if they want to report incidents anonymously.
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: “In the convenience sector, thousands of retailers and their colleagues are attacked every year, with many more subject to aggressive behaviour and verbal abuse just for doing their job. There is never an excuse for being abusive toward people working in local shops, and it mustn’t be normalised. Abuse is a crime and it always needs to be reported.”
Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary said: “All too often shop workers encounter violence, threats and abuse for simply doing their job. Worryingly Usdaw’s survey reveals that over half did not report an incident, with one in five not reporting to their employer something as serious as an assault. My message to shop workers is very clear, abuse is not a part of the job. It is really important that staff do tell their manager when they experience violence, threats or abuse and it’s really important that these incidents are also reported to the police. Report it to sort it!”
And Rodger Holden, Director of Business Development for Crimestoppers said: “At Crimestoppers, we believe everyone has the right to feel safe from crime, whether it’s at home, whilst out and about, or in your place of work. Shop workers play a vital role in our community and should never have to endure abuse, let alone violence, as part of their working lives. We urge anyone with information who prefers to stay completely anonymous to report what they know by calling 0800 555 111 or by using our anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Together, we can help make our shops, towns and communities safer for all.”
The campaign is also targeting the public with a series of powerful stories of people working in retail that have been subject to serious attacks, armed robberies and other offences to highlight the human impact of crime.
The Home Office funded campaign is being delivered by the Association of Convenience Stores. Campaign supporters include Crimestoppers, USDAW, the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, the Co-Operative, McColls, SPAR, Nisa Retail, Booker, Costcutter, Londis, BP, Sewell Group and James Convenience Retail.
Visit https://crimestoppers-uk.org/campaigns-media/campaigns/report-abuse-against-shop-workers.
