Lincolnshire shoppers urged to be kind as figures show scale of abuse towards retail staff

Lincolnshire Police is urging shoppers to be kind in the build-up to Christmas, where stores are fully open without any formal social distancing measures for the first time since 2019. Credit: PA Images

Shoppers across Lincolnshire are being encouraged to be more mindful of their behaviour in the run-up to Christmas, after the extent of abuse towards staff was revealed.

Figures from the British Retail Consortium show shop workers have been subjected to almost 40 incidents of abuse - both physical and verbal - each month over the last year.

The county's police force is urging customers to 'be kind', especially while stores open without any formal social distancing measures for the first time since 2019.

Their calls are all part of a nationwide campaign called #ShopKind, which is being funded by the Home Office and backed by Crimestoppers.