SHOP staff are facing a “Christmas crime wave,” with shoplifting, threats and violence from customers all on the rise, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart has warned.

She highlighted analysis from the House of Commons library showing that an average of 672 shoplifting offences a day went unsolved in the past year.

Retail union Usdaw called on the shopping public to show respect for workers, as the busy pre-Christmas shopping period leaves store staff exhausted and in need of a proper break.

General secretary Paddy Lillis said: “Our members tell us that incidents of verbal abuse are much worse in December and through to the new year, when shops are busy, customers are stressed and things can boil over.

“That is why we asked customers to ‘keep your cool’ and respect shop workers, to make the Christmas shopping experience better for everyone.

“It is shocking that seven in 10 of our members working in retail stores are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. 

“Over half of shop workers have faced incidents triggered by customers being frustrated with stock shortages, lack of staff or problems with self-service checkouts. 

“All of these issues are largely outside the control of the staff who are bearing the brunt of shoppers’ anger.”

The union has campaigned for more than a decade for violence against shopworkers to be made a specific crime, with appropriate punishment.

Labour has proposed a new offence of assaulting a shopworker as part of a crime and policing Bill, to be introduced at a later date.