Union urges shopworkers not to challenge shoplifters

Shopworkers' union USDAW is telling its members "Don't have a go", after a supermarket worker in Derbyshire was stabbed and seriously injured by a teenage shoplifter. Usdaw deputy general secretary John Hannett said: "We appreciate that it is a natural instinct to prevent theft, but shopworkers are not trained to deal with thieves and should not put themselves in danger by having a go . Supermarkets and other retail outlets should employ trained security staff to handle shoplifters and although one would expect sales staff to alert them, they should under no circumstances get physically involved themselves."