Warning issued as violence and abuse against retail workers at ‘unacceptably high’ levels

The report also included parcel theft for the first time, which it said cost retailers more than £100 million last year - (Getty Images)

Incidents of violence and abuse targeting retail workers saw a significant reduction last year but the overall level remains the second highest on record, new figures reveal.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) Crime Report reveals that while overall incidents fell by a fifth, from 2,000 to 1,600 per day, the daily average for physical violence against staff held steady at 118.