West Midlands retail workers speak out after Usdaw survey shows the impact of retail crime in the region
Retail trade union Usdaw has today (5 March) released shocking statistics from its annual survey showing that abuse and threats against shop workers continue to grow, with violence remaining at double pre-pandemic levels. The increase in incidents comes during an epidemic of retail crime.
Usdaw’s survey of 638 West Midlands retail staff found that in the last twelve months (national average):
- 82% have experienced verbal abuse (77%).
- 60% were threatened by a customer (53%).
- 11% were assaulted (10%).
Full report: www.usdaw.org.uk/FFFReport2024
West Midlands voices from the frontline: These are some of the comments West Midlands shop workers shared when responding to Usdaw’s survey:
Birmingham: “Threatened with being killed while customer had their head pressed against mine and also being poked.” – “I was pushed against a wall by a shoplifter when he ran out the store.” – “Swearing, shouted at. Shopping thrown at you.”
Coventry & Warwickshire: “Grabbed my hands and threatened to wait for me after my shift to beat me up.” – “Pushed against a wall by a shoplifter when he ran out the store.” – “Being treated like something that was underneath your shoe.”
Herefordshire: “Someone threw milkshake over me.” – “I refused the sale of alcohol and the man threatened me.” – “Shoplifters threatening to hit you when you ask them not to come in the store.”
Shropshire: “General frustration if things are not going quickly enough on the checkouts.” – “Mainly on self-service where customers take out their frustrations of the tills and handsets not working properly.” – “Threatened by shoplifters.”
Staffordshire: “Been threatened with a glass bottle over refusal of alcohol due to being drunk already.” – “A man pulled out an axe when we asked him to leave because he was stealing.” – “Rocks have been thrown at the delivery van.”
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “West Midlands retail workers are suffering above-average incidents of violence, abuse and threats. No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but our evidence shows that too many retail workers are. It is shocking that over three-quarters of our members working in retail are being abused, threatened and assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community. They provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law.
“The Government has listened and introduced the Crime and Policing Bill in the House of Commons, with measures to address these significant issues in England and Wales. We now look forward to a much-needed protection of retail workers’ law; ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, and Respect Orders. We will review the details for the provisions and look forward to engaging with the Government as the Bill goes through Parliament, with the first debate and vote due to take place on Monday 10 March. It is our hope that these measures will give retail workers the protection and respect they deserve.”
