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In February 2020 Councillor McCready heard from
Co-op Group employees about violence, threats and abuse at their store |
The Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force on 24 August 2021, it gives greater protection to retail workers who are carrying out statutory checks on proof of age for alcohol sales for example. I have written Police Scotland's Divisional Commander for Tayside asking how he and his officers will use their new powers. In February 2020 I visited the Co-operative Group's Blackness Store and heard about the problems of violence, threats, and abuse at that time. I am quite clear that this is not something that is peculiar to the that store but rather this is a problem across the West End and beyond. After that meeting I called on MSPs to support legislation put forward by Daniel Johnson MSP to protect retail workers. It is that legislation which has just come into force.
Nobody should face violence, threats or abuse at their place of work. I am delighted that MSPs agreed with me and that the Bill put forward by Daniel Johnson MSP became law and has come into force now. Throughout the pandemic we relied on retail workers to keep us fed and to ensure that there was food on the shelves. These retail heroes deserve our thanks and also protection from violence.
I have heard first-hand from retail workers about the problems they face. Often these problems occur when they are doing things that politicians have made them do like checking for proof of age on alcohol sales. This new law gives more protection to retail workers.
I have written to the local Police Scotland Divisional commander to ask about their plans to use their new powers and protect retail workers and indeed the wider community. It is important that the police take the problem of retail crime seriously and use the powers that they have to ensure that nobody faces violence, threats or abuse at their place of work.
