As national figures show a worrying increase in abuse aimed at shop staff, Aylesbury Town Council are encouraging businesses to take part in a new "Shop Kind" scheme.
Since the pandemic data says 100% increase in shop workers being abused by customers, with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) saying that for every 1000 workers, 105 have suffered violence or abuse in the period.
While admitting the situation locally is not as dramatic, Aylesbury Town Council are promoting the "Shop Kind" campaign, which is in conjunction with the National Business Crime and back backed by the Home Office. The idea encourages shoppers to treat shop assistants and staff with respect at all times.
Businesses can display "Shop Kind" stickers to reinforce the message, and are also being asked to report any incidents of abuse or shoplifting. This can either be at the time or retrospectively, as both help with not only keeping an accurate record of what’s happening in the town centre, but also where police should be focusing support.
We've been speaking to the Town's Mayor, Cllr Steven Lambert, about the scheme, and the support available for Town Centre businesses. You can listen to our chat below.
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