OXFORD East MP Anneliese Dodds has joined with members of retail union Usdaw to campaign for shopworkers.

She has linked up with the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers as part of the Freedom from Fear campaign during Respect for Shopworkers Week, which finishes on Sunday.

The campaign seeks to prevent violence, threats and abuse directed at retail staff.

And shopworkers are encouraged not to accept threats and abuse and to always report this to their manager.

Ms Dodds said: “I have been disturbed to hear about cases where shopworkers have been subject to unacceptable abuse and in some cases violence, from customers. “No-one should have to put up with this and it is certainly not ‘just part of the job’.

“Worryingly new data suggests that the human cost of retail crime is actually increasing rather than decreasing. The British Retail Consortium has indicated how there has been a 40 per cent rise in abusive or violent offences against shopworkers.

“We really need a change in the law so that shopworkers get the legal protections they need. I’m pleased to support the campaign by the trade union Usdaw to try and ensure that proper punishments are given out.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary said, shopworkers, in the course of their duties, could be expected to enforce the law.

This could involve preventing under-age purchases of knives, tobacco or alcohol, or detaining shoplifters.