SHOP staff are facing a “Christmas crime wave,” with shoplifting, threats and violence from customers all on the rise, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart has warned.

She highlighted analysis from the House of Commons library showing that an average of 672 shoplifting offences a day went unsolved in the past year.

Retail union Usdaw called on the shopping public to show respect for workers, as the busy pre-Christmas shopping period leaves store staff exhausted and in need of a proper break.