MPs back new move to protect shopworkers

The government to being asked to include a provision in its Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to deliver much-needed legislation to tackle growing abuse against shopworkers.

Labour’s frontbench has indicated they would support legal protection for shopworkers during the second reading debate on the bill and it attracted backbench support from across the House of Commons. The measure is also backed by leading retailers and trade associations.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw general secretary, said: “When retail CEOs, leading retail bodies and the shopworkers’ trade union jointly call for action, it is time for the government to listen. So we are grateful to the Labour frontbench and backbench MPs raising this issue.”

Nick Thomas-Symonds, shadow home secretary, added: “There have been awful examples of attacks on other frontline workers, who have been spat at, punched, verbally abused and intimidated. Labour is calling for wider measures to protect the pandemic heroes, extending protections to shop workers as well as other frontline workers.”

Conservative MP, Philip Davies, commented: “I used to work in retail, but it has been absolutely terrible to see the fact that during the pandemic, when shop workers have been going the extra mile to help us all, the number of assaults on them has doubled. We really need to do something about that, and I hope the government will look favourably upon that proposal.”