Martin Whitfield MSP has visited his local Co-op store in Prestonpans to discuss the issue of the growing violence, threats and abuse experienced by retail staff and the link with shop theft.
Retail trade union Usdaw launched shocking statistics from its annual survey during this year’s Respect for Shop Workers Week. Interim results from over 4,000 retail staff responses show that in the last twelve months:
- 69% have experienced verbal abuse.
- 45% were threatened by a customer.
- 17% were assaulted.
- 70% of these incidents were triggered by shoplifting and two-thirds of those were linked to addiction.
Mr Whitfield met Co-op staff and Usdaw representatives in the Prestonpans store in the run-up to the busy festive shopping period to discuss the issue and the impact it has on the wellbeing of staff and the store.
Commenting, Martin Whitfield MSP said:
“Shopworkers are on the frontline when it comes to ever more brazen criminal acts in supermarkets and other stores. Co-op representatives told me they saw a rise of 34 per cent in physical attacks on staff between 2022 and 2023, while all retailers are experiencing an increase in shoplifting. The Protection of Workers Act, introduced by Daniel Johnson MSP, came into force in 2021, and by February this year more than 500 people had been convicted under the new legislation.
“However, despite this improvement in the law to protect retail staff they continue to experience unacceptable levels of intimidation, abuse, and violence in the workplace. This is is completely unacceptable and causes significant harm and distress to the staff who are affected. I will continue to work with employers, trade unions, the police, and parliamentary colleagues to explore ways of tackling this hugely damaging problem.”
Tony Doonan, Usdaw regional secretary for Scotland, said:
“Shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive and these experiences from Scottish retail workers make very difficult reading. It is shocking that over two-thirds of our members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. Seven in ten of these incidents were triggered by theft from shops, which is clearly the result of a near doubling in police recorded shoplifting across Scotland since the pandemic. It has become increasingly common for retail stores to be targeted by organised crime gangs stealing to order in the midst of a retail crime epidemic.
“Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job and much more needs to be done to protect shop workers. We were delighted to have won the campaign for a protection of workers law in the Scottish Parliament, but that is the beginning not the end. We have to ensure that the legislation is central to tackle a growing wave of retail crime and Usdaw looks forward to working with Police Scotland to make that happen.”
Paul Gerrard, Co-op Director of Campaigns and Public Affairs, said:
“Our focus on reducing retail crime and protecting the safety of our colleagues and communities remains a top priority. We have seen, since the Retail Crime Action Plan was published in October 2023, an improvement in police response, and we welcome that. And, if we really want to protect shopworkers, shops and communities long term, we’ve also got to have interventions that tackle the root causes and prevent reoffending.
“We welcome the support of Martin Whitfield MSP and the focus on tackling the needs of residents and business. At the Co-op we stand ready to help and support to make the communities where our members live and work safer and become places that thrive.”
Usdaw members are raising awareness of the union’s year-round Freedom From Fear Campaign and talking to the public to promote a message of ‘respect for shop workers’ in the run-up to the busiest time of the year for retailers.
Find out more about the campaign at www.usdaw.org.uk/events/respect-for-shopworkers-week/.