The leader of Swindon Borough Council will ask the town’s two MPs to support a bill giving greater support to shop workers.
A motion brought to the council by Labour group deputy leader Steve Allsopp asking David Renard to express the authority’s support for the bill which would make attacking a shop worker a more serious offence than a common assault was passed unanimously on Thursday night.
Cllr Allsopp said: “What the last few months have shown us is that shop workers, particularly those in food retail are key workers.
“We have relied on them to keep the food network going, not only those in the large multiples but the independent local convenience stores.”
Cllr Allsopp cited evidence provided to the government by shop workers unions USDAW, the British Retail Consortium and the Co-operative movement about attacks on shop staff including having a hypodermic syringe held to one victim’s throat while an assailant demanded they open the till.
The motion was backed by the council’s deputy leader Russell Holland, who is a barrister: “I have professionally supported some victims of such assaults and they are horrific.”
Council leader David Renard asked if the motion could be amended to request him, rather than chief executive Susie Kemp, to write to the MPs.
Cllr Allsopp was glad to accept the amendment and the motion was passed unanimously.
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