Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consult representatives of the retail trade sector on the potential merits of introducing a Protection of Employees Bill in the context of tackling assaults on employees.

The Government is clear that violence and abuse towards any worker is not acceptable. The offence of common assault carries a maximum penalty of six months.

Additionally, the Government has already legislated to introduce a statutory aggravating factor for assault against any public facing worker via section 156 of the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. This legislation extends to England and Wales. The statutory aggravating factor applies in cases of assault where an offence is committed against those performing a public duty or providing a service to the public and ensures the courts treat the public-facing nature of a victim’s role as an aggravating factor when considering the sentence for an offence.

The introduction of the statutory aggravating factor sends a strong message that violence and abuse against retail staff will not be tolerated.

The Home Office continues to work closely with retailers, trade associations and policing through the National Retail Crime Steering Group to ensure the response to retail crime is as robust as it can be.