Violence and abuse against shop workers rose to 1,300 incidents a day last year, according to a leading trade body.

According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), incidents targeting staff escalated by 50% in the period leading up to September 2023, marking a stark increase from the previous year’s count of 870 incidents daily.

Criticism was directed at the government by the BRC for what it deemed as “woefully inadequate” measures to address the burgeoning “crisis”. Various business leaders have urged for specific legislation in England and Wales to criminalize violence against shop workers, akin to existing laws in Scotland.

The BRC outlined a range of incidents faced by retail staff, spanning from racial abuse and sexual harassment to physical assaults and threats involving weapons, with approximately 8,800 of these occurrences resulting in injuries throughout the year.

Helen Dickinson, the BRC’s chief executive, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “No one should have to go to work fearing for their safety. This is a crisis that demands action now.”

Many Logosoft customers that offer retail security are having to make changes to deal with the increase in incidents. Employees must be trained to recognise and handle inappropriate behaviour with support from their employer.

Read more at https://www.infologue.com/industry/huge-surge-in-violence-against-shopworkers/