Abuse of shopworkers continues to rise – more needs to be done
Over half of retail workers have been threatened by a customer in the past 12 months.
By Paddy Lillis, Usdaw union on 06 June 2025
Retail
Violence against shop workers grows in an epidemic of retail crime
Violence against shop workers has more than doubled in a year, according to Usdaw’s latest annual survey, as official figures show that shoplifting has risen by over a third. Shoplifting is not a victimless crime; theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shop workers.
By Paddy Lillis, Usdaw on 26 April 2024
Violence against retail workers: a growing workplace crisis
The festive and new year period is one of the busiest times of year for those working in retail, hospitality, and other customer-facing sectors. During this time of supposed good will and seasonal joy, we see a worrying rise in violent and abusive offences against retail workers.
By Mike Robinson FCA, British Safety Council on 31 January 2025
The customer is not always (al)right: the alarming rise of abuse and violence against public-facing workers
Incidents of abuse and violence against workers who deal with the public are on the rise. What is causing this spike in inappropriate behaviour, and what can employers and the Government do to make the workplace safer for public-facing employees?
By Kerry Reals on 31 January 2025
Purchasing body-worn cameras: 10 top tips
Body-worn cameras can reduce the risk of violence and threats to staff by providing a deterrent effect and documentary evidence for pursuing aggressors, but it’s important to carefully consider issues like functionality, data storage and user training during the selection process.
By Alasdair Field, Reveal Media on 13 May 2024
Assault of retail workers to become a standalone crime in UK shoplifting crackdown
Retailers have welcomed a UK government decision to make assaulting a shop worker a standalone criminal offence in England and Wales, but civil liberties groups have criticised plans to ramp up the use of facial recognition technology in town centres to help catch shoplifters.
By Kerry Reals on 10 April 2024
Violence and abuse against shop workers up 50 per cent last year, says British Retail Consortium
Incidents of violence and abuse against retail workers increased by 50 per cent to 1,300 a day in the year to September 2023, compared with the previous year, new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have shown.
By Kerry Reals on 14 February 2024
Can cameras save our shop workers from attack?
Shoplifting is on the rise, and with it the violence and intimidation of those who work in shops. We investigate whether body-worn cameras are an effective deterrent.
By Belinda Liversedge on 09 January 2024
Police to target ‘rampant rise in retail crime’ and violence
A specialist police team known as Project Pegasus is to target organised crime gangs who are masters in shoplifting, as violence against shopworkers soars across the UK.
By Belinda Liversedge on 17 November 2023
Health and safety prosecutions: recent cases provide some important lessons
Health and safety practitioners will already appreciate how extensive the duties on their companies to protect safety can be, how easy it is to fall foul of them and the importance of learning from any incidents to prevent any further serious events.
By Chris Green, Keoghs on 14 July 2023
