"People are wearing stab-proof vests" - retail workers at risk in Northern Lincolnshire
Retail union Usdaw says levels of violence towards staff is on the rise.
Some retail workers in Northern Lincolnshire have resorted to wearing stab-proof vests amid growing concerns over violence and abuse aimed at staff.
Retail union Usdaw's annual survey showed 18% of retail staff suffered a violent attack last year, compared to 8% in 2022.
Janet, who works in a supermarket in Grimsby, said: "It has become far, far worse over the last few years. It's a bit of a nightmare when people in some stores are wearing stab-proof vests, and there's just been an incident in Grimsby where someone had a gun pointed at them.
"Staff just don't know when they go into work whether they're going to be assaulted or abused."
Usdaw have said 70% of shopworkers experienced verbal abuse in 2023, while 46% were threatened by a customer.
Janet said she feels the cost of living crisis is driving more people into shoplifting, as workers like are confronted by shoplifters face-to-face on an increasingly regular basis.
Janet said when visiting another store she saw how widespread the issue is: "I got spun round by a shoplifter who pushed me out of the way. The staff were really upset and told me it happens every single day - about a dozen times a day.
"It's very frightening, and you get sick to death of it happening all the time, I don't know why people stay in retail to be perfectly honest."