MP for Redcar, Jacob Young, visited JD Sports in the town after the store asked him to support a pledge to protect shopworkers.

The British Retail Consortium launched the Shopworkers’ Protection Pledge calling for support for new legislation to protect retail workers from violence, threats and abuse and JD Sports in Redcar have joined the pledge.

Jodi Smith, store manager at JD Sports in Redcar, said: "We deal with shoplifters, aggression and threats of violence. We see that a lot in Redcar. There's quite a lot of training in place to stop them and to calm down the situation."

Staff said they have seen similar levels of shoplifting and violence since the pandemic. However, they have opened with less staff, which means a lower deterrent at the store.

Mr Young signed the pledge on Friday, which has also been signed by Dehenna Davison MP for Bishop Auckland and Matt Vickers MP for Stockton South.

Mr Young said: "Today I signed the pledge to support our retail workers against intimidation and crime. It's important we protect our retail workers who are all on the frontline dealing with customers on a day-to-day basis. They don't deserve to be put in situations where they feel unsafe. Across Redcar we want people to feel safe on the high street that includes our retail workers, so I fully support this campaign to try and improve the safety of our retail workers."

Jodi said that they often have to stop shoplifters.

She said: "Quite often unfortunately we do it, you get used to it - but it's not something you should have to get used to. It starts getting personal - people threaten to use weapons it becomes a little to much."

Stephen Valentine, profit protection at JD Sports, said: "We're getting to a situation where it's becoming the norm. We want a change. Staff get training on how to diffuse aggressive situations. We are very hands on."

Jodi added: "We had a theft the other day, I did chase them, I managed to grab a bag. He then threatened me saying he had a knife. Then I just stop because you don't know what will happen."

Mr Young said he previously worked in Republic at Teesside Park.

He said: "We had security on the site, which could help, but you don't have that on a high street."