AS WE approach the festive period the shops are getting busier with people looking forward to Christmas.

More shops will open later and all of us will be familiar with family and friends who are last minute shoppers. I confess to being one of those. Whilst the shopping spree can be exciting there is another side to the Christmas shopping rush that largely goes unnoticed. I am talking about the abuse that some shop workers suffer.

A survey carried out by USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) in 2013 revealed that six per cent of shopworkers had been subjected to violent attack, 37 per cent had been threatened and a massive 70 per cent had suffered verbal abuse. The latest Progress survey shows that in the last 12 months over 300 shopworkers were assaulted every day, just for doing their job. These statistics are shocking. No worker should be expected to put up with and accept abuse simply to earn a wage.

Last week was USDAW’s Respect for Shopworkers Week. The week is designed to raise public awareness of the risks and stress suffered by shopworkers, which gets worse at busy times, like the run up to Christmas. That’s why the campaign slogan for this week is ‘Freedom from Fear’. USDAW is calling for a change in the law to give shopworkers better protection from assault. Shopworkers often have to enforce licensing laws, police age restricted sales and deal with shoplifters. Unfortunately attempts this year by Labour MPs to amend the law for England and Wales in Westminster have failed as a result of Government opposition.

Sadly it is not only shopworkers who experience an increase in abusive behaviour from members of the public at this time of year. With the increasing number of letters, cards and gifts that we send to family and friends it is a very busy time for our postmen and postwomen. This puts increased pressure on staff who sort the mail and then have to go out to deliver it, often in treacherous conditions. Over the coming weeks I will be visiting the Royal Mail sorting office and shops in Penarth to talk to workers about their experiences and to highlight this serious issue. I hope that people remember that shopworkers and our postal workers are there to serve us. They provide a tremendous service, especially in the run-up to Christmas. They deserve respect and they have my full support.