The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and its members are calling on the public to join them in making a stand against violence and abuse towards retail workers this Christmas as incidents soar.

According to the trade body’s most recent crime survey, incidents of violence and abuse has rocketed to 1,300 every day, with many including threats with weapons, physical assaults and racial slurs.

The trade body is looking to highlight that delivery drivers, who have already been subjected to abuse, physical violence and threats with weapons, are set to even busier during this time of the year.

As a result, many drivers are being equipped with protective measures, such as personal safety devices to alert police of their whereabouts, and DNA spit testing kits.

Retailers are calling on the government to ensure the standalone offence for assaulting, threatening, or abusing a retail worker is introduced as quickly as possible and applies to all working in the industry.

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BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “As the clock runs down to Christmas, retail colleagues will be working extra hard to look after customers, helping them find what they need, keeping shelves stocked, and delivering gifts to people’s homes.

“While Christmas is an exceptionally busy time, any mistreatment of our colleagues will not be tolerated and we ask the public to stand with us in the fight against retail crime. Confrontations, be it verbal abuse or physical assault, can take a huge toll on victims, their families and their colleagues. Christmas is a time for everyone to enjoy.

“What our colleagues face on a daily basis is completely unacceptable. It is vital that the government sends a clear message and ensures the new standalone offence applies to all consumer-facing roles in retail.”

It comes as Deliveroo launched a campaign last week calling on the government to include better protections for delivery riders in its upcoming Crime and Policing Bill.

The platform’s senior vice president of rider care Camilla Kater said: “Delivery riders work very hard during the festive season, supporting restaurants and shops to reach customers across the UK.

“We’re urging the government through our Right to Ride Safely campaign to ensure the standalone offence for assaulting or threatening a retail worker also includes delivery riders given the vital role they play in the industry. No one should feel unsafe whilst working, and abuse towards delivery riders should never be tolerated.”