A THIRD of shopworkers are so stressed by violence, threats and abuse that they think about quitting.

Abuse is down on its height during the pandemic — where shopworkers were often on the front line of enforcing public health measures such as mask-wearing — but remains higher than beforehand.

Retail union Usdaw has been drawing attention to this worsening picture for years. There are powerful social and economic drivers behind anti-social behaviour and rising crime, from rising poverty to atomised workplaces and communities.