Shop worker threatened with dirty needles

Shop worker Michelle Whitehead said levels of abuse had increased

A shop employee has said she has been threatened by shoplifters with dirty needles and suffered physical abuse at work.

Michelle Whitehead, who works in a corner shop in Wolverhampton, welcomed news that assaulting a shop worker will be made a specific criminal offence in England and Wales.

The new offence will carry a maximum sentence of six months and is part of a government response to a wave of retail crime.

Perpetrators could also receive an unlimited fine and be banned from the shop where they committed the offence.

Ms Whitehead, a representative for the shop worker's was over the moon at the announcement and hoped it would make a difference.

She explained how abuse towards shop workers had continued to get worse over the years, with extreme cases including the use of violence.

Shoplifters have threatened workers, Ms Whitehead said

She said she had been the victim of an attack by an armed man, had things thrown at her and also experienced being threatened with dirty needles.

"The other day there was a shoplifter in and he was asked to put [items] back nicely and he said 'no I've got a knife,'" she explained.

'Second class citizens'

Ms Whitehead added there were also less violent cases involving verbal abuse from shoppers.

"They forget there was a time where we were key workers and they needed us," she continued.

"We're like second class citizens because we work in a local shop."

While Ms Whitehead said she sometimes felt frightened going to work, she said she would not leave the trade because of her relationship with regular customers.

But she added: "You're looking at the front door to see who's coming in. You just get a sense of fear every time that bell goes off on the door and somebody walks in.

"Sometimes you get up in the morning and think: 'Do I really want to go to work today?'"

Earlier this year a report found violent and abusive incidents against shop workers rose by 50% in 2022-23.

Helen Dickinson, chair of the British Retail Consortium, also welcomed the announcement.

In a statement, she said the voices of the three million people working in retail were "finally being heard".