A survey by the British Retail Consortium found that in the year to September 2023 there were on average 1,300 incidents of violence or verbal abuse against retail staff a day, up from 870 a day the year before.
Around 8,800 incidents resulted in injury, and incidents ranged from racial abuse and sexual harassment to physical assault and threats with weapons.
“Criminals are being given a free pass to steal goods and to abuse and assault retail colleagues. No one should have to go to work fearing for their safety. This is a crisis that demands action now,” said BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson.
