The Government of Scotland has introduced a new law dated 27.08.2021, after the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) Act, 2021 which came into effect on 24.02.2021. The new legislation also applies to retail workers, safeguarding their rights with increased protection, while they are doing their jobs (for example, in shops, bars and restaurants). It makes it a specific, new criminal offence to:
- assault them
- threaten or abuse them
- obstruct or hinder them
If the offence was committed because the worker was applying an age-restriction (for example, asking for proof of age from someone trying to buy alcohol), this would count as an “aggravation”. This could potentially make the offence more serious.
*Tanvi Singh, Editorial Assistant has reported this brief.