House of Commons · General Debate
15 September 2021 · 1 other contributor
Opened by Olivia Blake Lab Sheffield Hallam
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Olivia Blake raised concerns about abuse of public-facing workers (offences) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Moves a Bill to make provision for offences relating to verbal and physical abuse of public-facing workers, highlighting the increasing levels of abuse faced by various sectors such as retail, healthcare, journalism, transport, etc. Emphasises that current laws are insufficient due to low prosecution rates and inconsistent application. Proposes a new offence to simplify legal processes and encourage reporting.
Moves a Bill to criminalize verbal and physical abuse of public-facing workers, noting that over half of customer-facing employees experienced increased hostility during the coronavirus crisis. Cites statistics showing only 6% of incidents led to prosecution and many victims feel their reports are not taken seriously or won't make a difference. Advocates for a new offence similar to the 'protect the protectors' Act but more inclusive, aiming to empower workers to report abuse with confidence.