Violence and abuse against UK retail staff rises to 1,300 incidents a day

British Retail Consortium says criminals being given a free pass', with thefts more than doubling to 16.7m incidents last year

UK shop workers are facing 1,300 incidents of violence and abuse a day and a battle to control brazen" acts of shoplifting, as pressure mounts on ministers to intervene to protect retail employees.

Retailers saw the number of incidents of racial abuse, sexual harassment, physical assaults and threats with weapons rise 50% last year, while thefts more than doubled to 16.7m incidents, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the trade body which represents most major retailers.