The figures, compiled by the British Retail Consortium, show a 50 per cent increase in incidents of physical violence against shop workers in the past year. Over the same period, recorded threats of violence against staff have more than doubled.
The survey also claims that the number of incidents per store has increased by 18 per cent, while incidents of verbal abuse decreased by six per cent.
The BRC and Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers are making a joint call on the Home Secretary to push local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, which bring together police and local authorities, to give crime against retailers and shop workers the same level of attention as they direct toward crime and anti-social behaviour in residential neighbourhoods.
BRC director general Kevin Hawkins said: “These figures show the current approach to shop crime is not working. Last year retail employees were subjected to around half a million incidents of abuse or violence in the workplace. This is not just about a cost to the bottom line. Behind these figures there is individual pain and distress. It is unacceptable.”
