A Wiltshire shop worker has said verbal abuse has become an "everyday occurrence" as new data shows almost half in the South West have been threatened by a customer in the past year.

Retail trade union Usdaw has released statistics from its annual survey during this year’s Respect for Shop Workers Week, which runs from November 11 to 17.

The interim results, based on responses from more than 4,000 retail staff, reveal in the past year, 69 per cent have experienced verbal abuse, 45 per cent were threatened by a customer, and 17 per cent were assaulted.

A Wiltshire shopkeeper said: "Verbal abuse seems to be an everyday occurrence.

"People having no patience and issues when asking for ID."

Usdaw has linked 70 per cent of these incidents to shoplifting, with two-thirds of those connected to addiction.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: "Shop workers deserve far more respect than they receive and these experiences from South West retail workers make very difficult reading.

"It is shocking that over two-thirds of our members working in retail are suffering abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence.

"Seven in 10 of these incidents were triggered by theft from shops, which is clearly the result of a 31 per cent increase in police recorded shoplifting across the South West over the year to June."

He said the survey shows theft from shops is not a victimless crime as it "regularly" leads to violence and abuse against shop workers.

He continued: "Having to deal with repeated and persistent theft and even looting can cause issues beyond the incident itself like anxiety, fear, and in some cases physical harm to retail workers.

"Our members are reporting that they are often faced with hardened career criminals in their stores and much of the abuse they suffer is from those who are stealing to sell goods on, often to fund an addiction."

The new Labour Government's announcement of a Crime and Policing Bill in the King’s Speech, which includes a law to protect shop workers, the end of the £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, and town centre banning orders for repeat offenders, was welcomed by Mr Lillis.

He added: "It is our hope that these new measures will help give shop workers the respect they deserve."

Throughout the week, Usdaw activists have been calling on the shopping public to "respect shop workers" and "keep your cool," particularly in the run-up to Christmas.