Communications Union, Connect is launching a campaign at the end of the month in a bid to stop violence and abuse in telecom shops. Connect found that a startling number of retail staff suffered both physical and verbal abuse from customers.

The union conducted a survey in autumn last year and found that 80 per cent of those surveyed had been verbally abused whilst working in a store. Seven per cent also claimed to have been victims of physical violence. Connect said in 2006, there were 16,000 reports of physical attacks in the UK on retail staff and 83,000 of verbal abuse.

The Respect in Retail campaign is backed by Manchester United football club manager Alex Ferguson and personal safety charity, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. Connects general secretary Adrian Askew said: “Everyone deserves the right to respect and protection in the workplace. We believe that as an employee you are entitled to expect to be fully backed up by your company in the event of a verbal or physical attack from a customer.”

Connect will issue postcards advising staff how to deal with difficult customers as well as campaign materials for those interested.

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