A DISTRICT MP says more needs to be done to protect shopworkers from physical and verbal abuse.

Philip Davies, whose Shipley constituency includes Cullingworth and Denholme, successfully campaigned for attacks on shop staff to be made an offence in their own right.

But with incidents rising, he says further measures could be needed.

He has visited a Co-op store in his constituency to discuss with managers issues around abuse suffered by staff, and shoplifting.

Mr Davies says: "I worked in Asda for 12 years before entering Parliament and I know how hard staff work.

"I feel very strongly that no one should go to work in fear of verbal or physical abuse.

"I was delighted when the Government agreed to make assaulting a shopworker an offence in its own right, and increased the sentence a judge could hand out – it sends a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

"However, it concerns me that the number of staff being attacked or abused is increasing. We need to do everything we can to send out a strong warning that assaults on staff won't be tolerated. I'll be raising this with ministers to see what more can be done."