RETAIL WORKERS are facing new levels of abuse for telling shoppers they should be wearing face masks or observing social distancing in stores.

Their union revealed today that telling customers to observe regulations is now the biggest single trigger for abuse in the sector — more than challenging shoplifters or underage people trying to buy alcohol or tobacco.

Usdaw carried out a survey of more than 2,000 shop workers and found that incidents of abuse, assaults and threats have more than doubled during the pandemic.