STAFF at a Penparcau store have met with their local MP to discuss the violence and abuse they have faced from customers in the last two years.

Ben Lake MP visited the Co-op store in Penparcau on Friday to hear how retail crime is affecting shop floor staff and looking at ways to fix the problem.

As part of the Co-op’s ‘Safer Colleagues Safer Communities’ campaign and Usdaw’s Respect for Shopworkers week taking place between 15 and 21 November, Ben Lake MP had an opportunity to meet with members of staff on Friday, 12 November, and hear about the incidents of abuse that they have faced this year, just for doing their job and keeping the nation fed.

The issue of violence and abuse against shopworkers is not new and has been rising exponentially over the last two years. The last year has seen even greater challenges where anti-social behaviour, physical and verbal abuse towards Co-op shopworkers has increased by 36 per cent.

The Co-op’s ‘Safer Colleagues, Safer Communities’ campaign aims to raise awareness of retail crime and calls on the UK Government to take action to help combat the root cause of crime in our communities.

After his visit to the store, Mr Lake said: “I am very grateful to the team at the Co-op in Penparcau for welcoming me to the store and for sharing their experiences with me.

“Shop and retail workers both here in Ceredigion and across the country have been the backbone of local communities during this pandemic. During this crisis our key workers have been there to support us when we needed it most and it is only right we now do the same for them.

"That’s why I am proud to support USDAW’s ‘Respect for Shopworkers Week’ to give shop and retail workers the protections they need.”