A supermarket in Perth’s southern suburbs was under siege yesterday, with workers punched, spat at and abused by a gang of children.

Staff at the Cooloongup IGA were forced to defend themselves after a group of children, reportedly aged as young as 12, attacked and hurled abuse at staff after they were kicked out of the store - allegedly banned for stealing.

Workers were then forced to face off against the kids, who were captured on confronting video footage spitting and throwing punches before kicking in the supermarket’s glass windows.

IGA staff claim the group then tried to get in through the back entrance of the store, where they were stopped by another staff member - who was then assaulted.

An innocent shopper, Marilee Briggs was locked in the store as staff tried to keep the gang out.

Camera Icon Workers at an IGA in Perth’s southern suburbs were forced to defend themselves after a group of children punched, spat at and abused them after being kicked out of the store. Credit: 7 News

“I nearly vomited, it was scary and it was frightening,” she said, “and the little one, the mouth on her was foul.”

Ms Briggs and another shopper called triple zero, but police never came to help, which Ms Briggs called “disgusting”.

The Australian Retailers Association agreed, saying police aren't doing enough to protect retail workers.

"This big problem here is - we are not seeing action by the police to bring these criminals to justice," Executive Director Russell Zimmerman told 7 News.

"Maybe we need to take them out of their homes and put them into a young people's facility, to ensure that they are - pardon the expression - locked up."