Policy background Assaults on those providing a public service etc
The retail sector and other sectors with staff providing a service to the public have seen an increase in the frequency and severity of violence and abuse experienced by staff and there have been calls for the Government to act. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that in the year to March 2020 there were 688,000 incidents of violence experienced at work by adults in employment. Research by the Institute of Customer Service estimates that customer-facing staff account for 61% of the nation’s workforce.
	In July 2020 the Government published its response to a Call for Evidence on Violence and Abuse toward Shop Staff . The Call for Evidence sought to understand the extent of violence against shop staff, as well as the application of the current legislative framework, and response by the police and wider criminal justice system to enable Government to understand whether there are any gaps in current legislation and consider the case for reform. Responses highlighted that often incidents of violence and abuse are not reported to police. Reasons given included a lack of police response to a previous incident; employers discouraging their workforce from reporting incidents; employers or employees considering incidents were not serious enough to be reported to police; and a general sense that abuse was ‘part of the job’. Those in favour of changing the law to increase the penalty for assaulting a shop worker suggested it was required to deter potential offenders and ensure an effective criminal justice response to these crimes when they occur. At that time, whilst the Government recognised the motivations behind this suggestion, it did not consider that a case had yet been made for a change in the law. The Government Response to the Call for Evidence set out a programme of work to address the issues raised.
	In Summer 2021, the Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) conducted an inquiry into violence and abuse towards retail workers. The HASC concluded there is a strong case for extra protection in law for retail workers, and recommended the Government should consult urgently on the scope of a new standalone offence. In response to an amendment tabled to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, the Government committed to consider an amendment to legislation.
	Section 156 seeks to reduce violence and abuse against all workers who provide a service to the public, perform a public duty or provide a public service. The provision places in statute the aggravating factor set out in the Sentencing Council’s sentencing guidelines that is applied by the courts in cases of assault where an offence is committed against such workers.