Usdaw has recorded a sharp increase in the number of cases of abuse towards shopworkers during the coronavirus pandemic.

The trade union’s survey found that on average UK shopworkers face verbal abuse, threats or assaults every fortnight in 2019, but that figure doubled to every week during the lockdown period.

The petition calls on the House of Commons to enact legislation that protects retail workers, including making the abuse a specific offence that carries a penalty, which is serious enough to act as a deterrent.