Shopworkers' campaign targets violence and abuse

Home secretary David Blunkett joined the leaders of shopworkers' union USDAW and the chief executive of the Co-op Group to launch the first National Respect for Shopworkers Day, on 17 September.

More than 100 events were organised up and down the country as part of USDAW's Freedom from Fear campaign, which aims to protect shop staff from violence and abuse.

USDAW deputy general secretary John Hannett said the aim was to have "a fun day but with a serious message. Thousands of retail staff are physically attacked, threatened and verbally abused every year. It's unacceptable and our members are telling us 'enough is enough'."

USDAW cites recent survey evidence indicating that violent attacks on shopworkers have increased by 75% since 1999 while verbal abuse now happens every day in a third of the UK's shops.