Shop staff face rise in abuse from customers

SHOP workers have described being spat at, punched and suffering panic attacks after escalating customer abuse.

- BY GRAHAM HISCOTT Head of Business

A survey by the Retail Trust showed that more than three-quarters of staff have experienced intimidating behaviour in the past year, and almost a quarter have been physically assaulted.

Just over four in 10 said they are being attacked or abused every week - a rise of 10% on last year. And 45% felt the abuse had got worse in the last two years.