• Verbal and physical assaults on shop workers are becoming more commonplace, according to the Association of Convenience Stores
• Retail staff across the UK report concerning levels of abuse, with many facing verbal threats or worse while simply doing their jobs.
• Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner visited stores in Gloucester in support of a campaign calling for kindness towards shop workers
• PCC Chris Nelson said, “Treating each other with respect is a fundamental part of everyday life. Those who abuse and assault staff should be met with the full force of the law”.

Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Chris Nelson went walkabout (today) to hear first-hand what it’s like working on the shop floor.  

Retail staff across the UK continue to report concerning levels of abuse, with many facing verbal threats or worse while simply doing their jobs.

The PCC popped into shops in the city centre as part of ShopKind Week, a campaign co-ordinated by the Association of Convenience Stores on behalf of the Home Office in response to abuse and violence towards shop workers.

Mr.Nelson said, “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”. 

ShopKind Week runs until 6th July and is a national campaign calling for kindness and respect towards shopworkers, highlighting the essential role they play in our communities.

Led by the Home Office and supported by major retailers and local organisations, ShopKind aims to tackle the rising issue of abuse and violence against retail staff, promoting a safer and more respectful shopping environment for all.

Gloucester Business Improvement District (BID), Gloucester City Safe and Gloucestershire Constabulary are working with local businesses to display campaign materials, raise awareness, and remind shoppers that a little kindness can make a big difference.

Gloucester Bid Business Manager Emily Gibbon said, “We are encouraging all businesses to get behind the national week of action to share messages with their customers and colleagues about ShopKind. But also, consumers need to remember that the staff behind the counters are human too, please be kind.”

Steve Lindsay, Manager of Gloucestershire Safe said: “Gloucester City Safe works hand in hand with Gloucester BID and supports the ShopKind Initiative. Last year we worked with the University of Gloucestershire to survey retail staff to see how safe they feel at work. Violence and abuse towards shopworkers are unacceptable, everyone has the right to feel safe at work”.

Chief Inspector, Ash Shingler, said: “The constabulary is committed to reducing violence and abuse towards shop workers. Officers will continue to collaborate with businesses in order to bring offenders of these crime types to justice.”

ShopKind follows the launch earlier in the week of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative a united county-wide campaign aimed at tackling crime and antisocial behaviour (ASB) across Gloucestershire.