MSP Jackie Baillie and USDAW union leader Paddy Lillis back campaign to tackle retail crime.
By Bill Heaney
Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie is backing a campaign to tackle crime against shop workers, amidst a spike in retail violence in the area.
It comes as stores in Dumbarton report being targeted by youths intent on looting alcohol.
Supermarket giant Morrisons’ Glasgow Road store is the latest in a list of retailers to be hit, as video footage of staff struggling to tackle youths stealing high-value spirits emerged online last week.
Other retailers in the area, including Asda, have also been targeted.
Now Dumbarton’s MSP has voiced support for shopworkers’ union Usdaw, as a new survey shows the impact of retail crime in Scotland.
The organisation unveiled shock new statistics this week, which revealed that abuse and threats against shop workers continue to grow.
Usdaw’s Freedom from Fear campaign is aimed at preventing violence, threats and abuse against retail workers.
MSP Jackie, also Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader, said: “I am clear that retail workers should be able to face their working day without fear of intimidation, abuse or violence.
“It is unthinkable that anyone should turn up to work fearing that they will be abused and assaulted in the course of their job.
“Retail workers make a valuable contribution to our communities. They kept the country going during the Covid Pandemic when they kept stores open and went above and beyond, as key workers.
“It is essential that Police Scotland protect our retail workers and take retail crime and violence against workers seriously.”Data shows that violence against retail workers remains at double pre-pandemic levels.
Usdaw’s survey of 1,011 Scottish retail staff found that 70 per cent had experienced verbal abuse and 45 per cent had been threatened by customers.
Some eight per cent had also been assaulted at work.
Anonymous workers from Glasgow and Central Scotland reported how they faced daily verbal abuse, had been held at knifepoint and been grabbed by customers.
Another told how they had a jar of coffee smashed over their head after tackling thieves.
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Scottish retail workers suffer far too many incidents of violence, abuse and threats.
“No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but our evidence shows that too many retail workers are. It is shocking that over three-quarters of our members working in retail are being abused, threatened and assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community. They provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law.
“Scotland has had a protection of shop workers law in place since 2021 and it has already been used in around 10,000 incidents. We continue to work with retailers, the Scottish Government and Police Scotland to help ensure that legislation is fully utilised and that retail workers receive the protection and respect they deserve”.
- Usdaw’s Freedom from Fear Campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse against workers by engaging the public, shop workers and the Government. www.usdaw.org.uk/Campaigns/Freedom-From-Fear
Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021: www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2021/6