Scottish Bill would make an assault aggravated crime

a new bill in Scotland could mean tougher penalties for perpetrators of assaults on workers. The Workers (Aggravated Offences) Bill is supported by shop workers’ union USDAW, the public services unions Unite and UNISON, along with communications workers’ union CWU and train drivers’ union Aslef.

The Emergency Workers Act 2005 introduced tougher penalties for those found guilty of assaulting, hindering or obstructing emergency service workers. The proposed bill would extend this protection to any worker who provides a face-to-face service to the public.

USDAW says that since the introduction of the Emergency Workers Act the number of assaults on emergency staff in Scotland has fallen and the number of convictions has risen. The union is campaigning for the same protection for its members in England and Wales and says its latest survey found that one in 10 shop workers has been assaulted at work.