'It's illegal' | Third of customers sexually harassed by 'pest' workers illegally using personal details

A recent study conducted by the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has unveiled a disconcerting trend of unwanted romantic or sexual propositions from staff at various firms who possess customers' personal information.

The research, based on interviews with 2,289 UK adults, highlighted that approximately 17% of the general public had experienced unwanted contact from employees after utilising business services.

The ICO's investigation found that nearly a third of young people, aged 18 to 34, had been subjected to such unsolicited advances, while a quarter of individuals aged 35 to 44 also reported falling prey to this behaviour. The ICO has emphasised that this practice is unequivocally against the law.

London emerged as the city with the highest rate, where 33% of respondents reported having encountered such incidents.