Assaulting a shop worker will be made a separate criminal offence in England and Wales as part of a government response to a wave of retail crime.
So, assault me and it's dealt with under normal assault rules, but assault the lady stacking the shelves in Asda and ... it's somehow different and more of a crime? Why?
Rishi Sunak said shops must be free from the threat of crime or abuse. The government previously said it did not think a law change was required or would be "most effective" in response to a petition on the subject.
And now it's changed it's mind. Obvioulsy they think it's a vote winner.
There has been a long-running campaign - backed by several business leaders - to see violence against shop workers made a standalone offence. Helen Dickinson, chair of the British Retail Consortium, welcomed the announcement, saying "the voices of the three million people working in retail are finally being heard".
Three million votes on offer, eh?
The new offence will carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison.
If activist judges don't fall for the defence's sob story, you mean?
"The new offence will carry a maximum sentence of six months in prison."
ReplyDeleteHmm, exactly the same as the current, more general, offence of assault. What a co-incidence - it's almost as if it's exactly the same thing, reheated and dressed up to look fresh and appealing to the agitators!
"We do not enforce the existing, entirely adequate, laws on assault. Therefore we will introduce new laws on assault and not enforce them."
ReplyDeleteWill it apply for off duty staff? Or only once inside the premises. Delivery van staff? Charity shop volunteers? Car boot sales? Church jumble sales? Door to door retail.
ReplyDeleteThe only good thing about this is that it makes work for the legal profession. Never a bad thing.
"Hmm, exactly the same as the current, more general, offence of assault. What a co-incidence..."
ReplyDeleteWhodathunkit?
"We do not enforce the existing, entirely adequate, laws on assault. Therefore we will introduce new laws on assault and not enforce them"
A far more honest statement.
"Will it apply for off duty staff? Or only once inside the premises. Delivery van staff? Charity shop volunteers? Car boot sales? Church jumble sales? Door to door retail."
Many, many meetings will have been held to cover the nuances, I'm sure...😏