The abuse, threats and violence directed at retail workers in the UK have reached alarming new heights.
A recent survey by the charity Retail Trust found that 77% of shop staff experienced intimidating behaviour in the past year, while nearly one in four, 23 per cent, were physically assaulted.
Even more concerning, 43 per cent of respondents said they faced abuse or attacks on a weekly basis, a sharp rise from 33 per cent just one year earlier. Usdaw’s 2025 survey reflects the same pattern, reporting that 77 per cent of retail workers experienced verbal abuse over the previous twelve months, 53 per cent received threats, and 10 per cent suffered physical assault.
Violence Linked to Rising Retail Crime
These attacks are occurring alongside a dramatic surge in retail crime. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) reports that during 2023–24, thefts exceeded 20 million incidents nationwide, equating to around 55,000 thefts every day and costing the industry approximately £2.2 billion.
Incidents of violence and abuse against retail staff now exceed 2,000 per day. This represents an increase of more than 50 per cent in a single year and more than four times the level recorded in 2020. The BRC also reports that around 70 daily incidents involved weapons, more than double the previous year.
Industry analysts note that theft and violence have become increasingly intertwined, with assaults often triggered during confrontations over shoplifting or organised retail crime. This trend mirrors broader concerns around retail crime and violence against frontline workers.
Security Measures Are Not Enough
The rise in violence has continued despite retailers investing heavily in security measures, including CCTV, body-worn cameras and specialist staff training. While these measures may deter some offences, they have failed to address the underlying lack of enforcement and accountability.
Retail workers deserve workplaces where safety is guaranteed, not jobs where threats and violence become routine. Without stronger legal enforcement, meaningful employer responsibility and a shift in public behaviour, abuse will continue to escalate.
These risks echo similar challenges faced by workers in transport and other public-facing roles, where frontline staff are routinely exposed to aggression.
Statement from the Workers of England Union
Stephen Morris, General Secretary of the Workers of England Union, issued a clear message to members:
“Where employers fail to act, the Workers of England Union will help its members who want to take it further. If you have been assaulted, harassed or abused by a member of the public, a colleague or a manager, you are not alone.
The Workers of England Union will make sure your voice is heard and your employment rights are defended.”
References
- Retail Trust, Health of Retail Report, 2024.
- Personnel Today reporting on Retail Trust findings, 2024.
- Usdaw, Freedom From Fear Survey, 2025.
- British Retail Consortium, Retail Crime Survey, 2024–25.
- Reuters reporting on retail crime trends, 2024.
- British Safety Council analysis of BRC data, 2024.
- Lodge Security UK retail crime briefing, 2024.
- House of Commons Library briefing on the offence of assaulting a shopworker, 2024.
