The Minister of State, Home Office () (Con): This
legislative change recognises the very strong public and
parliamentary feeling about assaults against public-facing
workers. I understand the argument that retail workers are asked
to enforce the statutory age restrictions and that many see this
as a reason for increased protection. We have also heard concerns
from the retail sector about the risk of increased abuse fuelled
by the mandatory requirement to wear face masks in shops.
However, I consider it is important to give the same protection
to all workers who face a similar risk of assault. For retail
workers, it builds on the important work already under way by the
National Retail Crime Steering Group to ensure that assaults are
not seen as part of a retail worker’s job. The steering group
brings together the Government, retailers, unions and trade
associations, the Association of Police and
Crime Commissioners and the police-led National
Business Crime Centre...
...Ultimately, the allocation of police officers is a matter for
individual chief constables and the Police
and Crime Commissioners to whom they are
answerable. It is the Government’s duty to ensure that the police
have sufficient resources and there can be no doubt that the
Government are doing what is required in that space. As noble
Lords will know, we are committed to an additional 20,000 police
officers in England and Wales, and we are over half way there...
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