People shopping in stores such as Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, Primark, Morrisons and all retailers have been warned about tougher laws designed to protect people working in shops. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act has introduced tougher penalties against customers who attack shop workers following a rise in abuse during the pandemic.
It was given Royal Assent at the end of last month and makes abuse against individuals who serve the public an aggravated offence. Anyone found breaking the law could find themselves sent to jail, Manchester Evening News reports.
The ceo of The Association of Convenience Stores (ASC), James Lowman, said: “We strongly welcome the introduction of this act, which the retail sector has been calling for over a number of years. It’s essential that the penalties for attacking a shopworker serve as an effective deterrent.
