Labour MP David Lepper is backing a campaign to highlight the growing problem of violence and threats against people working in shops.
It has been launched by the shopworkers' union Usdaw and the Co-op retail sector and will culminate in Respect for Shopworkers Day on September 17.
Mr Lepper, MP for Brighton Pavilion, has signed a Commons Early Day motion.
He said: "In Brighton and Hove, our city centre retail crime consortium is doing a lot of good work to combat shop crime.
"But across the country a survey showed violence against staff in almost half the shops during the last year and threats of violence in almost three quarters.
"A third of the shops taking part reported verbal abuse by customers as a daily problem."
The MP added: "Figures from the British Retail Consortium's latest retail crime survey show a similar situation, with threats of violence to staff on the increase.
"It is unacceptable that people working in shops should face these threats and I welcome this campaign to try to reverse a worrying trend."
Tuesday September 9, 2003
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