Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle, has welcomed a government commitment which will ensure that the new Police, Crime, Courts and Sentencing Bill will include specific legislation to protect for shopworkers when it reaches its next stage in Parliament.
Huw was one of 30 Conservative MPs who supported an amendment to the Bill which called for tougher penalties and sentencing for those who abuse, threaten or assault retail workers. The amendment brought forward by his colleague, Matt Vickers, MP for Stockton South, was withdrawn before the Bill was debated on Monday evening (5 July) as the government gave the MPs a firm commitment to legislate on this issue.
Over the past two years Huw has worked closely with the British Retail Consortium, local retailers and MP colleagues in Parliament to lobby for stronger legislation to protect shop workers. Locally, a number of retailers have spoken to Huw of the regular abuse and threats that their staff face on a regular basis and how they feel the law does not act as a deterrent to persistent offenders.
Huw said “I was very pleased that the Government agreed to include stronger legislation to protect retail workers in the next stage of this Bill. It recognises that retail staff they are key workers on whom we rely and are valued members of our community. Shop workers went out of their way to help local people during the pandemic working on the front line despite their own worries for themselves and their families. They deserve the greatest respect for their hard work and to feel safe in the workplace. There must be a zero-tolerance approach to threats or minor assaults for workers in public facing roles and I’m glad that the new law will recognise this.”
Matt Vickers MP said "I'm delighted that the Government has committed to legislate to protect retail workers. A heartfelt thank you to goes to Huw and everyone else that supported this amendment.
"We expect shop workers to enforce the law, whether that be the semi-retired cashier checking ID or the young shelf stacker in their first job asking someone to wear a mask. Our shop workers have been on the front line during this pandemic and I'm delighted that the government has recognised that the law must go further to protect them."
