The NFRN has welcomed the launch of a bid by a Scottish MSP, designed to place legal protection on shop workers who are victims of abuse and assault. 

Daniel Johnson, Labour MSP for Edinburgh Southern, wants to bring forward a Member’s Bill to Holyrood which would create new offenses that specifically deal with violence and abuse of shop workers, as well as staff who sell age-restricted products, such as bar workers. 

Launching a consultation on plans through the notpartofthejob.com website, he said: “Retail workers are suffering from growing levels of violence and I don’t think anybody should put up with abuse or violence as part of their job.”

Mr Johnson added he wanted legislation introduced that recognised shop keepers’ responsibilities and provided a “clear and lower threshold at which obstructive, abusive or threatening behaviour is considered a crime and can be prosecuted”.

Linda Sood, NFRN president and owner of Falcon News in Portsmouth, said: “This is excellent. We’ve witnessed two killings of shop workers in the last few months and this initiative is something that should be happening everywhere, not just in Scotland.”