Pledge to tackle shop violence

Shop workers are being intimidated

Unacceptable physical and verbal attacks on shop workers must be tackled, the first minister has said.

Jack McConnell made the pledge as part of the Scottish Executive's anti-social behaviour drive.

Shop workers' union Usdaw has unveiled A Respect for Shop Workers' charter, setting out minimum courtesy standards staff should expect from customers.

Mr McConnell said communities across Scotland must "take a stand" against shop attacks.

'Constant abuse'

Speaking at the charter's launch in Edinburgh, the first minister said the campaign would "complement the drive to tackle anti-social behaviour".

He said: "Strong communities need thriving local shops to provide jobs and the goods and services people need every day.

"But increasingly their future is being put at real risk because the workers on the shop floor are facing constant abuse and attacks.

Local people should not feel intimidated by drunks or drug addicts when buying a loaf or bread of a pint of milk, inside or outside shops First Minister Jack McConnell

"We all need to take a stand now against this unacceptable behaviour.

"Local people should not feel intimidated by drunks or drug addicts when buying a loaf of bread or a pint of milk, inside or outside shops."

Nor should the shop workers who are trying to help them, he added.

Union officials have linked the problem to drink and drugs and said the greatest threat is from young people who are refused the sale of alcohol.

During the summer Usdaw launched a campaign, Freedom from Fear, to highlight the scale of the problem.

Research carried out by the union suggested that, on average, at least one shop assistant is attacked every hour of each working day.