‘Overwhelming’ support for plans to beef up shop worker protection

The “overwhelming” response to plans to increase protection for shop workers and bar staff selling age-restricted products shows a change in the law is “necessary”, the MSP spearheading the legislation said.

Labour’s Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, is bringing forward a member’s bill at Holyrood in a bid to create new offences around the abuse and assault of those who sell items such as alcohol and cigarettes.

Previous surveys have shown 99 per cent of retail staff have had to deal with some form of physical or verbal abuse while at work, he said.

A consultation involving more than 1,000 businesses, individuals and organisations found 95 per cent support for Mr Johnson’s proposals.

The MSP has now lodged a final proposal for the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age Restricted Sales Etc) (Scotland) Bill.

He said: “For too many workers, violence and abuse are just part of the job.

“This legislation is necessary and taps into a strong public feeling of being let down by how the current criminal justice system deals with violence and abuse against workers.”