Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, is supporting #ShopKind, a campaign to help tackle violence and abuse of shop worker’s.
Violence and abuse against shopworkers is a growing problem with the British Retail Consortium estimating 455 abusive or violent incidents occurring every day in the retail sector in the past 12 months.
Launched last year, #ShopKind is an ongoing campaign delivered by the Association of Convenience Stores, and backed by the Home Office, to encourage positive behaviour in shops, acknowledge the important role shopworkers have and highlight the impact of and scale of violence and abuse they face.
Matthew said: “Shopworkers play a crucial role in our communities, demonstrated so clearly throughout the pandemic, yet during this time the scale of abuse and violence directed at them has worryingly increased.
“Nobody should be going to work fearing for their safety which is why it is so important to support the #ShopKind campaign. I urge shop worker’s across the Thames Valley who experience abuse or violence to report it and ask customers in our communities to continue to be mindful of the essential role that shop worker’s do and give them the respect and gratitude they deserve.”