A Baroness is trying to change the law so “trolley rage” shoppers can be jailed for up to two years.
Ex-Tesco executive Lucy Neville-Rolfe wants an “assault or abuse against retail staff” offence in the Policing Bill.
It comes as 2.9 million store workers face a rising threat of violence, which began with anger over face masks and has grown through shortages.
Usdaw shopworkers’ union boss Paddy Willis said: “It’s been a terrible year, with over 90% of staff abused, two thirds threatened and one in seven attacked.”
The Baroness tabled her Lords amendment after a similar one failed in the Commons despite calls from the cross-party Home Affairs Select Committee.
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A report by the committee found the police response to retail staff attacks had so far failed to match the scale of the problem.
Staff have also been assaulted when challenging shoplifters or asking customers buying booze for ID.
The British Retail Consortium said there were 455 incidents a day at stores in 2020 – despite a £1.2billion investment in safety measures such as body-worn cameras, increased security staff and panic alarms.
Mr Lillis added: “When retail employers, leading retail bodies, the Home Affairs Select Committee and the shopworkers’ trade union jointly call for legislation, it’s time the Government listened.
“In Scotland a law to protect shop workers came into force in August. We are now looking for the House of Lords to act.” The BRC’s Helen Dickinson said: “The current laws simply do not go far enough.
“While victims are left traumatised, perpetrators roam free, with most crimes going unprosecuted.”
