A TRADE union and businesses are supporting a new law to protect shopworkers.
Labour MSP Daniel Johnson is promoting a bill that would create new offences regarding the assault of shopworkers and others, like bar and pub staff, who are involved in the sale and supply of age-restricted goods and services.
The consultation period on the Bill closes on Friday.
John Hannett of shopworkers union, Usdaw, said: “All too often criminals who assault staff are not even sent to court, those who are can receive derisory sentences. In other cases, where the offender isn’t even charged, victims are left feeling that no one cares that they were assaulted. So Daniel Johnson’s bid to provide stiffer penalties for those who assault workers is really important to our members and we encourage as many as possible to participate in the consultation
“Our members need there to be a simple stand-alone offence that is widely recognised and understood by the public, police, the judiciary and most importantly criminals.”
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