MSPs will look at offering additional protection to shop workers after new figures showed rates of violence and abuse against retail staff was at its highest level in ten years.

The survey from the British Retail Consortium showed a 363 per cent increase in the number of violent or abusive incidents against retail workers since 2011-12.

Trade union Usdaw has campaigned on the issue of retail worker abuse, and previously revealed in a separate survey that 34 Scottish shopworkers are assaulted every day, with 70 per cent verbally abused over the last year.

Labour’s Daniel Johnson hopes to introduce legislation which would offer additional protection to shop workers.

He said: “Nobody should have to deal with abuse of any kind in their place of work.

“Yet sadly these statistics show it is increasingly becoming just part of the job, with 70 per cent of retail workers in Scotland suffering from physical or verbal abuse.

“It is clear that action must be taken to prevent the mistreatment of shop workers.

“That is why in the New Year I will be bringing forward plans for legislation to offer additional protection to shop workers.”

Crime figures show that between 2011 and 2012, 11 out of every 1,000 shop staff members reported incidents of violence or abuse experienced per 1,000 staff.

In 2015 to 2016 the number was 51.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary said: “Our members appreciate the support of MSPs for our Freedom from Fear campaign, which highlights the abuse experienced by shopworkers while simply doing their job.

“We are pleased that the Scottish Government recognises the important contribution Usdaw makes to promote the safety of workers.

“However, warm words and sympathy are not enough to stop or deter the thug who attacks a shopworker; only clear action from the Scottish Government can do that.

“It was regrettable that the Scottish Government has in the past rejected a protection of workers bill and then stopped collecting data on the number of assaults of shopworkers.

“They now have the opportunity to back up their stated support for our campaign by supporting legislation, when Daniel Johnson MSP launches a consultation on a new Protection of Workers Bill. We can see no justification for not protecting shopworkers, who have a legal responsibility to enforce the law on age-related sales.

“Life on the frontline of retail can be pretty tough for many. We launched our Freedom From Fear Campaign in the face of growing concerns amongst retail workers about violence, threats and abuse.

“The campaign works with retailers to promote respect and make workplaces safer for staff and customers and we need the help of the police to deliver that aim. 34 Scottish shopworkers are assaulted every day, with 70 per cent verbally abused over the last year and 42 per cent threatened, according to the interim results of Usdaw’s annual survey. It is time to say enough is enough.”

He added: “Our survey of shopworkers shows that every minute of every day another shopworker is assaulted, threatened or abused.

“This must not continue and we call on the political parties in Holyrood to come together and act to improve the safety of all public-facing workers.”

Outside the Buchanan Galleries yesterday, shopworkers taking a breather from the relentless chaos of the post Christmas sales all had stories of angry customers and abuse to share.

One 21-year-old man who works in John Lewis, said he didn’t think there was much the government could do: “People just need to stop being rude. Shouting at someone on the minimum wage, working their arse off, is a crappy thing to do.”

His 19-year-old woman colleague, about to start the fourth hour of her eight hour shift, said she had already been shouted at twice. “You just get used to it,” she shrugged.