A Gloucester shop manager has told Punchline-Gloucester.com the shocking details of his day-to-day work as retailers in the city battle against a barrage of theft, abuse and the constant threat of violence.

Gareth Robinson, who has been a manager with Poundland for four years and manages the outlet on Southgate Street, told Punchline Editor Mark Owen how up to four incidents of theft – often with menace to harm staff – have hit the store EVERY DAY since it first opened in November 2023.

The insight from those on the front line of retailing in Gloucester comes as the office of Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner launches Shopkind, a campaign calling for kindness towards shop workers which follows on the heels of the authority's Safer Streets initiative, which was launched earlier this week.

Mr Robinson said abuse and theft has been a "massive problem" ever since the store was launched.

He said: "We regularly get up to four incidents of theft every day, with someone on Sunday coming in to steal 96 bottles of Fixodent." With all manner of items, including high-value batteries being a key target, challenging thieves was a gamble, he said, against the risk of subsequent assault.

"We get told not to approach them, which we don't," he added. "Staff will alert me to suspicious activity and suspects are asked to leave politely."

Intervention often provokes racism, with threats to meet "outside" and a level of menace that adds a horrible weight to the workload for staff, he added. Living not far from the store, he said that an additional stress came from the risk of an encounter beyond the working day, given a number of belligerent shoplifters who are local to the area.

"I have to protect my staff but this threatens their livelihood, with more money coming out of the till. It's a problem that the rest of the retailers here all share," he said.

He added that he felt the problem was a headache for both the government, the nation and Gloucester: "Our CPSOs do a great job but they are fully stretched with only up to four of them, often being called to shops where the value of items is higher. When we need them though, they and the police are there."

Lynx deodorant and washing pods were also particularly targeted in the store, he said, while children were also frequently attempting to steal sweets.

Kieron Harper, manager of the nearby Tesco Express, echoed Mr Robinson's experience.

He said: "Street drinkers walking in and out, not a care in the world, they are taking what they want on the way out and causing no end of stress for us. We're down to tagging everything. If it's not tagged – it doesn't go out."

ShopKind's primary aim is to heighten recognition of verbal and physical assaults on shop workers and how the crime is becoming more commonplace. According to the Association of Convenience Stores, which is coordinating the campaign on behalf of the Home Office, many businesses suffer from the effects of anti-social behaviour (ASB) but it can particularly impact small independent retailers.

A spokesperson said: "Small outlets in local communities can act as a hotspot for ASB causing mental, physical and financial harm to a business."

Warmer weather, lighter nights and the schools breaking up for summer also can lead to an increase in incidents of ASB which can take many forms including a range of nuisance and criminal behaviours which cause distress to others: "It can also impact the customers of the business and local community because of the price in increased costs of goods, higher insurance premiums and potential loss of investment by businesses in the local area."

This morning, PCC Chris Nelson, Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner, visited stores in the city in support of the campaign.

Mr Nelson said: "Treating each other with respect is a fundamental part of everyday life. Those who abuse and assault staff should be met with the full force of the law".

He added: "I fully support this campaign because we all need to be kinder to each other as we go about our daily lives.

ShopKind Week runs until July 6 (this Sunday) and the drive is supported by Gloucester Business Improvement District (BID), Gloucester City Safe and Gloucestershire Constabulary, who are all working with local businesses to display campaign materials, raise awareness, and remind shoppers that a little kindness can make a big difference.

Emily Gibbon, Gloucester Bid Business Manager, said: "We are encouraging all businesses to get behind the national week of action to share messages with their customers and colleagues about ShopKind. But also, consumers need to remember that the staff behind the counters are human too, please be kind."

Steve Lindsay, Manager of Gloucestershire Safe, said: "Gloucester City Safe works hand in hand with Gloucester BID and supports the ShopKind Initiative. Last year we worked with the University of Gloucestershire to survey retail staff to see how safe they feel at work. Violence and abuse towards shopworkers are unacceptable, everyone has the right to feel safe at work".

Chief Inspector, Ash Shingler, added: "The constabulary is committed to reducing violence and abuse towards shop workers. Officers will continue to collaborate with businesses in order to bring offenders of these crime types to justice."