Holyrood pass bill making it an offence to threaten shopworkers

MSPs unanimously pass legislation that looks to improve protection for shop workers.

The bill - lodged by Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern Daniel Johnson - makes it a criminal offence to threaten or abuse shop staff when they’re carrying out duties like selling age restricted items.

According to the trade union Usdaw, an average of 15 shop staff are assaulted every day in Scotland.

Mr Johnson said his Bill, which was passed by 118 votes to zero, showed how seriously such incidents would now be taken.

He added: “For too long retail workers have been expected to put up with violence and abuse. That many see it as part of the job is completely unacceptable. My Bill will give retail workers the protection they deserve.”

“This pandemic has seen retail on the front line; performing critical roles, supplying the basic essentials to all of us and keeping us safe as we do so. With us now living under another national lockdown, it’s more important than ever that our essential retail workers are properly supported.”

He added: "It is a sad fact that the denial of sale resulting from proof of age is the biggest single trigger factor to these dreadful incidents, or it was until Covid and the enforcement of social distancing overtook it.

"Shop staff have been spat at for asking customers to socially distance, and stock has been deliberately smashed in retaliation for item limits being imposed."

Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said: "It is a great result for our members in Scotland, who will now have the protection of the law that they deserve. We are grateful to Daniel Johnson for steering this important legislation through the Parliament."

The union is now urging the UK Government to introduce similar legislation to protect retail staff in England.

That message was echoed by Head of Policy at the Scottish Retail Consortium, Ewan MacDonald-Russell, who said: "Scotland has led the way in giving retail workers the legal protection and recognition they deserve.

"In getting behind Daniel Johnson’s Bill MSPs have voted to pass legislation which explicitly states the abuse of retail workers is unacceptable - sending a clear and unequivocal message that the deplorable rise in abuse and violence should come to an end.

“With retailers spending record amounts on crime prevention, following the passage of this legislation the focus must move to ensuring the justice system has the necessary resources to ensure the law is now enforced."

Community safety minister Ash Denham said: "At all times but especially at the moment, workers in retail roles should feel safe, supported and protected by our criminal laws.

"There is no excuse for such behaviour and criminal laws do have a key role to play.

"Although they are currently protected by a wide range of existing criminal laws, many have not felt safe or protected when exposed to verbal abuse, threatening and abusive behaviour and physical attacks.

"She said the Government fully supported "robust enforcement action to deal with any attacks and threats made against retail workers".

Hear all the latest news from across the North of Scotland on the hour, every hour, at MFR. Listen on FM, via our MFR app, on your DAB radio, online at MFR.co.uk, or say ‘Play MFR’ on your Smart Speaker.