Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether an assessment has been made by the Health and Safety Executive of the safety of lone staff working in betting shops; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have not received any representations on assaults on betting shop staff. HSE does not hold information on the proportion of Association of British Bookmakers member betting shops which have been deemed unsafe for single manning, nor has an assessment been made of the safety of lone staff working in betting shops.

HSE provides guidance to help employers ensure a safe working environment for lone workers http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg73.pdf and on controlling the risk of violence to staff (http://www.hse.gov.uk/violence/toolkit/index.htm).

All members of the Association of British Bookmakers should meet the requirements set out in the Voluntary Code of Safety and Security National Standards for Bookmakers published by Safe Bet Alliance in 2014.

Local Authorities enforce occupational health and safety legislation in betting shops and violence to staff is an issue which may be a focus for inspection where evidence suggests the risks are not being managed properly.