Yasmin Qureshi MP has joined with members of the retail union Usdaw to campaign for respect for shopworkers as part of the Freedom From Fear Campaign, which seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse directed at retail staff.

Following a campaign event in the House of Commons, Yasmin Qureshi has pledged to support greater protection for shopworkers and other public facing workers whilst they go about their jobs.

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East says:

“Too often, retail employees are confronted with violence, threats and abuse and it is really important we stand together and ask people to respect shopworkers.

“Data collected by the British Retail Consortium shows that the human cost of retail crime is growing, with a 40% increase in offences involving abuse or violence against shopworkers.

“I will continue to campaign with Usdaw for a change in the law to ensure that proper punishments are given out.  We must give a clear message that assaulting workers who are serving the public is totally unacceptable.”

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary says:

“Often, in the course of their duties, shopworkers are expected to enforce the law, whether that is preventing under-age purchases of products like knives, tobacco or alcohol, or detaining shoplifters until the police arrive, they can be put in real danger.  Parliament has given shopworkers the duty to enforce the law, so Parliament should provide the necessary protection.

“I have been shocked by the leniency of some of the sentences for assault of workers.  Around 200 shopworkers are assaulted every day and it is time to say enough is enough.  The Government must act to address this issue and act quickly.

“I’ve been very disappointed to see Tory and Liberal MPs, on five occasions combine to block this measure when proposed by Labour.  The Conservative record on tackling retail crime shows that since 2010 there are 20,000 fewer police and a steady increase in shoplifting rising 8% this year, but the number of shop thieves going to court dropping by a quarter.”

Examples of lenient sentences given to assailants of workers selling alcohol

A shopworker working at a till refused to serve a customer alcohol. The customer swore and shouted at her and she called her manager for assistance.  The store manager agreed the customer was too drunk to serve and asked the customer to leave the shop.  He refused to leave.  Whilst staff were trying to escort him out of the shop he kicked and punched 3 members of staff.  He also spat in the face of the store manager.  The police were called and he was given a police caution.

A thug, given a suspended sentence for assault, went out to celebrate his ‘lenient’ sentence and launched a vile racist attack on a woman shopworker, assaulted her in front of her children by pulling out chunks of her hair and walked free from court again.

A man grabbed a shopworker and pushed him back against a window.  He then walked off, shouting that he was going to ‘get him’.  In court he was told his suspended sentence for a previous offence would not be activated.

A shopworker was punched on the jaw when she asked a persistent shoplifter to leave, because they’d been barred from the store.  The shopworker gave a statement and the police saw the CCTV footage.  The attacker was arrested but nothing more has happened.

Further information

Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

Results of the Usdaw’s 2016 survey, based on 2,805 responses, show that over the last 12 months 50% were verbally abused and 29% were threatened. 8% have been assaulted, with 32% not reporting the incident. The 2017 survey is currently being compiled.

Respect for Shopworkers Week 2017 takes place on 13-­19 November. It is an annual event where shopworkers talk to the public about the problems of violence threats and abuse, asking customers to ‘keep their cool’. Part of the campaign will be encouraging shopworkers not to take abuse as part of the job and report incidents to their manager.

For further information please contact Usdaw’s Media Officer, David Williams on: 0161 249 2469, 07798 696 603 or by e-­mail to david.a.williams@usdaw.org.uk