Attacked shop workers report feeling unsafe in city

One woman said she had talked to her family about "moving elsewhere" following the attack

Two shop workers who were attacked while trying to stop shoplifters in Coventry have said they no longer "feel safe" in the city.

The women, who work in the city centre and wished to remain anonymous, said they were subjected to racial slurs and repeatedly kicked and punched during the incident.

One said a girl grabbed her and pulled her hair before she was hit on the back of her head with a glass bottle.

West Midlands Police said two girls, aged 13 and 14, had been arrested on suspicion of assault and had been bailed with strict conditions while inquiries continued.

Shoplifting was at its highest level since 2003, the Office for National Statistics said

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), shoplifting in the UK has risen to its highest level in 20 years, with more than 430,000 offences recorded last year.

The Centre for Retail Research estimates the economic impact of shoplifting adds £133 to the cost of an average household’s shopping bill each year.

The workers, who were attacked on 8 August, said they were set upon after trying to stop a group of girls, whom they believed to be prolific shoplifters, from entering the store.

"They pushed me out of the shop," one of the women explained. "One girl, she started to drag me by pulling my hair - it was so painful and I couldn't defend myself.

The other girls were "kicking and punching me all over my body", she added. "I was in a huge amount of pain."

The other woman explained she was on her way to the shop where she saw a crowd had gathered, and "someone hit the back of my head with a glass bottle", resulting in "bleeding and shattered glass on the wound".

"In that moment I was in complete shock and everything was a blur," she added.

Scared to return to the shop the next day, one woman said she felt "intimidated" after spotting three boys associated with the group, one of whom was wearing a balaclava.

"I feel the police they don't see this... [It] leaves us feeling very unprotected, very unsafe," she said.

"I enjoyed living in Coventry otherwise I wouldn't [have stayed] here for 10 years, but recently... I want to hide. I've also talked to my family about moving elsewhere."

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "Maintaining the safety of people who live, work or visit the city is a key focus of what we do.

"We have officers on visible patrols in the city centre every day who can offer assistance and respond to crime reports."