Geraint is backing a union campaign against police cuts.

Earlier this month, the shopworker's union, Usdaw launched a petition against the cuts to coincide with its annual Respect for Shopkeepers Week.

The union is claiming that the cuts will put shopkeepers at risk and claim that the significant increases in numbers of uniformed police officers over the last ten years has helped improve safety for shopworkers.

According to the British Retail Consortium's Annual Retail Crime Survey, crime has decreased by 43 per cent and incidents against shopworkers less than half the 2004 levels.

According to Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary (HMIC) figures, 12.5 per cent — 395 — of police officers will be cut from communities in South Wales  because of the Government's measures to cut the deficit. 

Its Adapting to Austerity report also said there was “relatively strong evidence” falling staff numbers could lead to an increase in some offences.

Geraint, who is running his own campaign and petition, said: "I share Usdaw's concerns and that is why I welcome their excellent and necessary campaign which I very much support."

Usdaw Deputy General Secretary, Paddy Lillis, said: "Shop workers should be free from the fear of violence, threats and verbal abuse and it should never be accepted as just a part of the job."

To sign Geraint's petition scroll to the bottom of the home page www.geraintdavies.org.uk.