SHOPWORKERS are abused, threatened or assaulted more than 21 times a year on average, an Usdaw survey revealed today.

The retail union was launching its annual Respect for Shopworkers Week.

About two thirds of shopworkers have experienced verbal abuse, 41 per cent have been threatened by a customer and nearly 5 per cent have been assaulted, amounting to about 400 assaults every day across all shopworkers, the survey found.

Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “Violence, threats and abuse against workers continue to increase. The statistics are shocking and show that urgent action is required.

“Many UK workers are on the front line of dealing with the public and that can mean they end up on the wrong side of a verbal or physical assault.

“We have consistently demonstrated the full extent of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers. Five months ago we and the retail employers responded to the Home Office ‘call for evidence’ — and with one voice — when we jointly called for action to tackle this growing problem.

“So we were disappointed to hear on the final day of Parliament that the government is still analysing the evidence received, has not yet published its response and is still considering next steps.”

Individual experiences in the report included a computer being thrown at a shopworker by a customer because a pie he had bought was not hot enough.

Other incidents included sexual abuse, workers being threatened by customers wielding knives and syringes, and staff being headbutted and kicked.