Voters overwhelmingly back giving shop workers tougher protections against abusive yobs, a poll has revealed.
A Yonder survey of 2,000 people for the Cooperative Party found 89% would support a law creating a specific offence of assaulting, abusing or threatening retail staff.
It comes as MPs gear up for a Commons debate on Monday where they will hear calls for a new clause in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to give retail workers greater legal protections from violence and abuse.
Attacks on staff increased during the coronavirus crisis, with employees sometimes challenging customers who refused to wear masks.
Retail chiefs say there are 450 attacks on staff every day.
Cooperative Party general secretary Joe Fortune said: “Shop workers put themselves on the frontline during the pandemic, helping to keep the nation fed.
“Instead of receiving thanks, these key workers have instead been confronted with shocking levels of violence, threats and abuse.
“The Government has an opportunity next week to introduce a new law to give retail workers the protection they need and deserve.
“Retailers back it, trade unions back it, and now we know the public overwhelmingly back it too.
“It’s time for the Government to listen and ensure violence, threats and abuse are not just ‘part of the job’.”
Usdaw shop workers' unions general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “It is incredibly heartening to see this huge level of support from the shopping public for our members who have faced unprecedented levels of violence, threats and abuse.
“When retail employers, leading retail bodies, the public and the shop workers’ trade union call for legislation, it is time for the Government and MPs to listen.”
In February last year, Labour MP Gareth Thomas published an early day motion urging the Commons to support a new law aimed at preventing assaults.
The Mirror told how a survey showed three in five store staff had suffered verbal or physical abuse at work.
Attacks are thought to have risen over the past 16 months – despite shop staff being key workers.
British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “The BRC has been long calling for a new statutory offence for abusing, threatening or assaulting a retail worker.
“An offence would impose tougher penalties on perpetrators and send a clear message that these incidents will not be tolerated.
“Shop workers have suffered for far too long.
“According to our latest Crime Survey, violence and abuse is on the rise with over 450 incidents of violence and abuse every day, despite retailers spending record sums of £1.2billion on crime prevention.
“Staff have been verbally and violently assaulted, as well as spat at and coughed on for challenging shoplifters, enforcing age-restricted sales and implementing coronavirus safety measures.”
Co-op Food chief executive Jo Whitfield said: “No-one should have to go to work and face these unprecedented levels of violence, abuse and anti-social behaviour.
“Frontline workers have been coughed on, spat at, threatened with knives and syringes – it is not acceptable and should not be part of the job.
“There is now a clear opportunity for MPs to protect shop workers in their communities by backing the amendment to the Government’s Crime (PCSC) Bill.”
