Labour AM for the Vale of Clwyd, Ann Jones, has added her voice to a campaign to introduce stiffer sentences for assaults on shopworkers selling alcohol. The campaign spearheaded by the USDAW union is calling on the UK Government to introduce the tougher law in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.
Ms Jones said: “Every week, shopworkers across Wales are threatened or even assaulted during the course of their work. Shopworkers have a duty to enforce the Licensing Act and make sure that alcohol is not sold to those who it shouldn’t be sold to.
“Staff in the pub and retail sector are the front line of defence against underage drinking and it is far too regular an occurrence that they face abuse from disgruntled customers.
“I’m backing calls from the USDAW union who do tremendous work in campaigning for fair rights and safer conditions for staff across the retail sector. It is not right that any worker faces abuse and assault for simply doing their job and I believe that there should be stiffer penalties for those who assault shopworkers”.
USDAW is joined by business leaders and Pubwatch in calling for an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill which would create a specific offence for assaulting a member of staff who is discharging their responsibilities under the Licensing Act.
