MP calls for law to shield retail staff

ALEX NORRIS WANTS HARSHER SENTENCES FOR SHOP ATTACKS

A NOTTINGHAM MP is calling for more protection for shop workers selling restricted items like alcohol, knives and acid over the counter.

Alex Norris, Labour MP for Nottingham North, said those who attack retail workers should face “greater punishment” - and wanted more stringent sentences of up to a year in prison.

He has proposed his Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill which was given its first reading in Parliament on Tuesday, October 9.

“My reason for wanting to bring about this Bill is simple, to protect shop workers in the course of their jobs, recognising that they are working in the public interest,” he said.

His plan would make certain offences aggravated - allowing for longer sentences - when carried out against shop workers.

It comes after national trade union figures revealed that 250 shop workers were assaulted every day after a survey.

A number of anonymous shop staff have come forward alleging abuse they have faced in Mr Norris’s constituency.

One said: “A bloke entered the store and nicked some chocolate Rice Krispies and hid them under his jacket.

“The store manager approached him and asked him to return the food.

“This was when the bloke became aggressive.

“He threw the food at the manager and made a headbutting gesture to the manager and another colleague.

“Once he’d left the store, he pulled out a small knife and made a gesture towards the colleagues.”

Another case came after a member of staff asked a man for

ID who wanted to buy a can of Red

Bull.

“He started shouting insults,” a source said.

“Another colleague intervened and she received insults.

“When the store manager became involved, he received abuse and aggressive behaviour.

“Once the police were called, the customer left whilst making threats saying he knew where they lived.”

Mr Norris added: “Anyone assaulted while doing their job should be afforded all protections of the law and I believe what sets retail workers apart is that they have been entrusted with a really important civic responsibility that goes above and beyond their duties and responsibility to their employer.

“I think that as a legislature we should be acutely aware of this, because we are the people who gave these workers these extra responsibilities and we’re the ones effectively asking them to police the law on the sale of alcohol, knives, glues and now acid on behalf of us all.”

The Bill was listed for a second reading on November 23 but is unlikely to become law in its current form without Government support or sufficient parliamentary time.

If successful, Mr Norris, pictured above, said: “We could have this in the statute book by the spring.”