Gloucestershire’s PCC supports drive to reduce violence and abuse in retail

• Verbal and physical assaults on shop workers are becoming commonplace, according to a recent survey
• research carried out by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers revealed that more than two thirds of respondents had been verbally abused and almost half threatened
• this week, 11-17 November, is ‘Respect for Shop Workers’ week, part of the union’s yearlong ‘Freedom from Fear’ campaign
• retail manager Graham Bocking said, “At one store I was the manager of, I expected to be threatened at least once a week, every week”.
• Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson said, “Treating each other with respect is a fundamental part of everyday life. Those who don’t, and abuse and assault staff, should be met with the full force of the law”. 

Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Chris Nelson went on to the shop floor to hear shocking stories of abuse levelled at retail workers. 

They included, “Basket thrown at me due to queues”. “Customer hurled abuse at me over not receiving a refund”. “Customer spat in my face because we’ve moved the cheese”. “Shoplifters threatening and throwing items”.

Retail manager Graham Bocking said, “There’s just a complete lack of respect for shop workers. It’s becoming more evident in society now that people take out their frustrations on whoever they come across. And for lots of people, shop workers are some of the only people they come across.

“Shop lifting is on the increase. Violence is not unheard of. Security guards being assaulted is run-of-the-mill now. At one store I was the manager of, I expected to be threatened at least once a week, every week”.

The PCC was visiting a major supermarket in Gloucester where he met representatives of USDAW’s ‘Freedom from Fear’, a yearlong campaign which is particularly relevant during ‘Respect for Shop Workers’ from 11-17 November. 

In a survey of 4,000 staff carried out by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW):

• 69% had experienced verbal abuse
• 45% had been threatened by a customer
• 17% were assaulted, and
• 70% of these incidents, were triggered by shop lifting, and two thirds linked to addiction.

Shop steward Wendy Hawker said, “We always run this campaign up to Christmas because that’s when people tend to get more stressed and frustrated. You come to work to provide a service and enjoy your job. You should not be threatened and abused”.

Gloucestershire’s PCC, Chris Nelson, said: “Tackling shoplifting and protecting staff is part of the neighbourhood policing response. The Constabulary can always use more resources and I’m hoping the Government might give us more money so we can expand our resources and deal with the problems even more effectively. 

“I also think design and crime prevention can play a part in discouraging people from stealing.

“But I fully support this campaign because we all need to be kinder to each other as we go about our daily lives. Treating each other with respect is a fundamental part of everyday life. Those who don’t and abuse and assault staff should be met with the full force of the law”.