North West shopworkers speak out after an Usdaw survey finds that violence has more than doubled in the 2024

RETAIL trade union Usdaw has launched shocking statistics from their annual survey of over 5,500 retail staff showing that 18% of shopworkers suffered a violent attack in 2024, compared to 8% in 2022.

The increase in assaults comes during an epidemic of retail crime with official stats and reports from retailers showing significant increases in theft from shops. Usdaw's survey shows that levels of violence, threats and abuse all increased compared to pre-pandemic figures. In the last twelve months (pre-pandemic levels in brackets, from the 2019 survey):-

• 70% (68%) have experienced verbal abuse.
  
  

• 46% (43%) were threatened by a customer.
  
  

• 18% (5%) were assaulted.

The full report can be found on:- USDAW.Org.UK.

These findings follow similar trends to recent reports from British Retail Consortium and the Association of Convenience Stores. Both retail trade associations found significant increases in violence and abuse against shopworkers alongside much higher levels of shoplifting, which is costing the industry £3 billion in lost stock and security measures.

North West voices from the frontline... These are some of the comments North West shopworkers shared when responding to Usdaw's survey:-

• Cumbria:- "Being blamed for petrol station issues. Threatened to do me in and watch my back." "Mainly verbal abuse from challenge 25 who do not have ID." "Customers not having receipts then just having a go at you."
  
  

• Cheshire:- "Stock has been thrown at me." "Verbal and mental abuse." "Called stupid little Hitler and a thick b*****d." "Threatened with a screwdriver during a till snatch." "Verbal abuse including sexual verbal harassment from male customer."
  
  

• Lancashire:- "Pushed over by a shoplifter." "I got called a c**t because customer didn't have loyalty card." "Came in store he was in a mood already shouting abuse. Saw me and started as I am Asian." "Called b*tch, threats of waiting after work."
  

• Manchester:- "Customers have threatened to jump over the counter and assault me," "Shoplifter punched the window next to me and said it would be my face next time." "I've been called a f**king whore and a dog." "Basket thrown at us."
  
  

• Merseyside:- "Threatened by customer for theft." "Broken nose, table thrown at me, daily verbal abuse." "Spat on when approaching customer for shop lifting." "Been punched, spat at, kicked, items and objects thrown at me, chased with a knife."

Paddy Lillis; Usdaw General Secretary says:- "It is heart breaking to hear these testimonies from North West shopworkers who deserve far more respect than they receive. Our latest survey results clearly show the scale of the appalling violence, threats and abuse faced by retail staff. No one should feel afraid to go to work, but our evidence shows that too many retail workers are. It is shocking that nearly a 5th of our members working in retail are being 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. Our members have reported that they are often faced with hardened career criminals and we know that retail workers are much more likely to be abused by those who are stealing to sell goods on. Our latest survey results show that:- 7 in 10 retail workers suffered abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. Theft from shops and armed robbery were triggers for 61% of these incidents. Violence and abuse is not an acceptable part of the job and much more needs to be done to protect shopworkers. The UK Government has repeatedly failed to act in the face of an epidemic of retail crime, rising theft from shops and assaults against retail workers. It is disappointing that they have no measures in their legislative programme to tackle this issue. We support Labour's attempts to amend the Government's Criminal Justice Bill, so that the law is strengthened to protect shopworkers from violence, threats and abuse. A protection of shopworkers law is also supported by many retailers. It already exists in Scotland and has secured over 500 convictions. We also need more neighbourhood Police with patrols in Town Centres, respect orders to ban repeat offenders and an end to the £200 threshold for investigating and prosecuting shop theft. Most of all, we ask the public to support our campaign by respecting shopworkers."

THE entries are now in for 1 of the North West's premier art exhibitions, which opens in Southport at the end of the month. Each year the call out for the Sefton Open attracts hundreds of submissions from ever hopeful local artists all vying for the coveted space on the gallery walls.

Arriving in all shapes and sizes, from giant, wall hugging canvases to postcard size minatures, knitted recycled rubber installations to life-size, bronze cast bust sculptures, these have now been whittled down by the selection committee and will go on display at The Atkinson Art Gallery, on Lord Street, Southport from:- Saturday 23 March 2024 until Saturday 4 May 2024.

Stephen Whittle, The Atkinson's Principal Manager:- "It's another record breaking year for Sefton Open with more artworks submitted than ever before. The variety of media on show is really pleasing with lots more photographers, textile artists and printmakers entering their work. We're very excited to be working with the Palette club to present an exciting exhibition with something for everyone."

Monopolising the 1st floor galleries at The Atkinson, the exhibition is supported by their longstanding partner, The Southport Palette Club, which was formed in 1921 by a group of artists, including local landscape painter and Southport School of Art graduate, Percy Lancaster, to further the:- "professional interests of Southport artists by holding an annual exhibition of their works."

Many of the Palette Club's founder members were artists of national repute including Joseph Harold Swanwick, best known for his ploughing scenes and other representations of farming life, and fellow academicians of the Royal Cambrian Academy, Henry Percy Huggill and portrait painter, John Archibald Alexander Berrie.

They were headed by Southport born Club President, Philip Connard, a post he held until his death.

The enduring association between the Palette Club and The Atkinson was cemented at this time when Huggill, then curator of the Gallery, was also appointed the group's 1st Chairman.

Increasingly valued as a showcase for local talent resident, working or educated in the Region, since 1926 the scope of the exhibition was widened to give amateurs, as well as professionals, the same facilities.

The success of these early displays was demonstrated by the ever-increasing number of visitors to the exhibition each season, which continued to grow in reputation throughout the 1920s and 1930s and soon became established as an annual attraction in the town.

During its formative years the exhibition would display up to 180 works, but has since continued to grow in size, stature and variety. In 1938 ceramic and craft works were exhibited for the 1st time and in 2001 video was also included. In 2020 the exhibition embraced the digital world and went online.

Unlike other academies and societies, the Palette Club has neither associates nor members and is not really a:- 'club' in the accepted sense:- "It is simply an executive committee which meets to organise one annual exhibition."

Birkdale based professional artist and current Chairman of Southport Palette Club, Peter Owen, reports:- "Increased submission to the Southport Palette Club meant a rigorous selection which is reflected in the quality of the work displayed in this year's exhibition."