Shop workers union Usdaw has taken its Freedom From Fear campaign to Downing Street, delivering a petition with more than 100,000 signatures calling for greater protection for its members.

A spokesman for the Home Office told ePolitix.com: "Any form of violence is totally unacceptable and should not be tolerated. Everyone has the right to go about their work without fear of physical assault or the intimidation of verbal abuse. We are fully aware that the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) 'Freedom from Fear Campaign' is highlighting this issue.

"The government is very prepared to play its part in the fight against crime. We have put £15 million into a scheme specifically to help small retailers with security. But everyone, including retailers, has a responsibility to do what they can to take sensible precautions to reduce crime and disorder. That is why we are working with the British Retail Consortium on these matters.

"In December last year, the Home Office launched a consultation paper, 'A Business Crime Consultation: Your Chance to Air Your Views'. This sought views of stakeholders, such as the police, local government and businesses and their representative organisations on the most effective way of creating and maintaining partnerships to reduce the opportunities for crime against business, and to enhance the contribution that business can make to crime reduction. The consultation came to an end on 28th February, and we are currently analysing the responses.

"The Home Office is also carrying out a commercial crime victimisation study of the retail and manufacturing sectors. This is the first independent, commercial crime survey in 10 years. The fieldwork is now complete and the results are likely to be published in the late summer. This in turn will help us to understand where we should be focusing our effort.

"The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) encourages employers to manage work-related violence in the same way as any health and safety issue. To help employers do this the HSE has published general guidance "Violence at Work: A Guide for Employers" to help them tackle work-related violence in accordance with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

"HSE have also published specific guidance for the retail sector 'Preventing Violence to Retail Staff' and published guidance "Work-related violence: managing the risk in smaller businesses" to help smaller businesses manage the risk of work-related violence."

Forum Response: Usdaw

John Hannett, deputy general secretary of Usdaw, said: "Our members are telling us loud and clear - enough is enough.

"Violence and abuse against shopworkers has reached intolerable levels. It's up to us, employers, the government and the police to take retail crime much more seriously.

"If we don't get a grip on this situation then staff and customers will not feel safe in their local stores. Our members deserve to feel safe in their workplace."

Forum Response: British Retail Consortium

Bill Moyes, director general of the British Retail Consortium, said: "The BRC fully endorses the Usdaw Charter to respect shopworkers rights. Retail crime is a major problem for society.

"Drink and drugs is often the driver leading to violent attacks on staff.

"Retailers by signing up to the Charter are making a public statement that violence or abuse to staff will not be tolerated."