Retailers urge MPs to deliver tougher penalties for attacks on shopworkers in policing bill

Conservative MP Matt Vickers is proposing tougher penalties for any workers serving the public that are subject to violent attacks. Labour MPs are supporting amendments for specific attacks on shopworkers and shopworkers enforcing age restrictions.

The new amendments would provide greater protections for shopworkers and address the 40,000 violent attacks in convenience stores last year.

ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “We welcome the amendments to the Bill which would deliver tougher penalties to offenders who attack shopworkers and would urge MPs to support these amendments on Monday at the Report Stage of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

“The problem of violence and abuse against shopworkers is getting worse and we need the government to take urgent action to provide our colleagues with the support and protection that they so desperately need.”

ACS has created a tool to help retailers contact their MPs in support of new amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.