As shops in the West gear up for the Black Friday Sale later this week (Friday 24 November), Mayor Dan Norris is urging residents to keep their cool and 'Buy Kind'.

Abuse of shop staff is a growing problem in the West of England, and across the country. According to a survey published last week, two in five workers face weekly abuse including being shouted at, spat on or hit.

It's feared these incidents may rise during the busy festive season. In fact, Black Friday events every year see a jump of around two thirds in incidents of verbal abuse, threats and, in some cases, violence against staff, according to USDAW, a trade union supporting shop staff.

Mayor Norris is urging locals to Buy Kind - treating shopworkers with respect - during this week's Black Friday sales bonanza and in the run up to Christmas, and beyond.

He said: "While Christmas can have its own stresses, there's simply no excuse for verbally and especially physically abusing hard-working staff who themselves are gearing up for what's going to be an incredibly busy and stressful few weeks in the run up to the big day.

"My message to shoppers therefore is clear. Have fun and enjoy your bargain hunting later this week, keep your cool and Buy Kind - this Black Friday, and beyond."

Mayor Dan Norris is backing calls for a new standalone offence of assaulting a shopworker, and has written to ministers urging them to proceed with legislation to make that happen.