MINISTERS have vowed to protect fearful employees who have been verbally or physically attacked while at work - after two-thirds of Barnsley workers said they had been the victim of abuse.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that assaulting a shopworker will be made a separate criminal offence with those responsible facing a maximum sentence of six months in jail or an unlimited fine - the same sentencing guidelines for common assault.

The party also wants to scrap a rule which makes it less likely police will investigate the theft of goods under the value of £200 because they are dealt with less severely by the courts.

The change comes after the shopworkers’ union, Usdaw, revealed last year that two-thirds of its Barnsley members working in retail across the town had endured abuse from customers or shoplifters.

Ms Cooper said: “We know that security is the bedrock on which communities can come together and on which the opportunities Labour has always fought for are built.

“You don’t get social justice if you don’t have justice.

“Respect is the very foundation of our democracy - those Labour values are at the heart of all we do and they are at the heart of our mission for safer streets too.

“Starting in towns and cities across the country where rising street crime has driven people from our high streets, corroding the fabric of our communities.

“After years of Co-op and Usdaw campaigning, this Labour government will introduce a new law on assaults on shopworkers, because everyone has the right to work in freedom from fear.”

Usdaw’s ‘Freedom From Fear’ campaign also revealed 42 per cent of Barnsley shopworkers had been threatened by a customer and five per cent had been subjected to a physical assault.

Shoplifting, the campaign claimed, triggered the majority of incidents, leading to potential altercations between the thief and worker.

Barnsley South MP Stephanie Peacock added: “I was pleased to support USDAW’s Freedom From Fear campaign to stop violence against shopworkers.

“It is really worrying that there has been a notable increase in violence against shopworkers - everyone deserves to feel safe when they are going to work.

“The government has committed to ensuring that police attend every report of shoplifting and we will remove the £200 threshold for reporting an incidence of the crime.

“Shoplifting is often accompanied by violence against workers so this will help stop these crimes being committed.”

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw’s general secretary, said the rise in attacks was an ‘epidemic’.

“Yvette fully understands the impact of an epidemic of retail crime that is blighting our shops and putting fear into the hearts of shopworkers.

“The Home Secretary has long promised to act to protect retail staff and we were delighted to see the legislation.

“We now look forward to the publication of the Crime and Policing Bill and the inclusion of a much-needed protection of shopworkers law, ending the indefensible £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters, which has effectively become an open invitation to retail criminals; and funding more uniformed officers patrolling shopping areas along with town centre banning orders for repeat offenders.

“No-one should feel afraid to go to work, but too many retail workers are.

“It’s shocking that our members working in retail are being assaulted for simply doing their job and serving the community.

“They provide an essential service and deserve our respect and the protection of the law.

“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime - theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers.

“Having to deal with repeated and persistent shoplifters can cause issues beyond the theft itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers.

“This is a hugely important issue for our members and they are saying loud and clear that enough is enough.”