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THE Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner of the West Midlands has called for tougher laws to ensure shop workers are better protected from abuse.
Waheed Saleem is calling for change after the level of abuse against shop workers in the West Midlands rose by a fifth in 2020.
In 2019, there were 781 incidents of abuse reported to the police. In 2020, numbers rose to 934, according to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's office.
The picture suggests the Covid-19 pandemic has been a flashpoint for abuse, with customers’ frustrated over queuing, limits on stock, and mandatory mask wearing.
And it is believed that some shops in the region have even advised staff not to rigidly enforce mask wearing and social distancing rules to protect against abuse.