A catalogue of violence against shopworkers — with more than 300 front-line retail staff assaulted every day in the last 12 months — was revealed yesterday.

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) says the government insists shop staff have a duty to enforce the law, such as not selling alcohol to people who are drunk, or youngsters. But the Tories and their Lib Dem allies have repeatedly refused Labour calls for the staff to be given better protection.

And even when violent perpetrators are convicted of offences against workers, they are given lenient sentences — and some are not even charged with an offence, says the union.

Usdaw quoted case studies including a thug on a suspended sentence for assault who launched a vile racist attack on a shopworker, assaulting her in front of her children by pulling out chunks of her hair.

He was not prosecuted.

Speaking at the beginning of Respect for Shopworkers Week, Usdaw general secretary John Hannett said: “Too often retail employees are ­confronted with violence, threats and abuse, and it is really important we stand together and ask people to keep their cool and respect shopworkers.

“I’ve been shocked by the leniency of some of the sentences handed out for the assault of workers and our survey shows there is a real need to tackle this problem.

“Usdaw continues to campaign for a change in the law to ensure that proper punishments are given out. We must give a clear message that assaulting workers who are serving the public is totally unacceptable.”