Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has been made of the potential merits of including Security Industry Authority licenced security staff in the provisions of the Assault on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.

Everyone has the right to feel safe at work and an assault on any person whilst carrying out their job is completely unacceptable.

The Government has no current plans to extend the definition of the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 to other workers. The Act was specifically created in response to an increasing rise in assaults on front-line emergency workers, those who are enforcing the law or saving lives.

However, a wide range of criminal offences currently exist that cover the type of abuse or violence that could be faced by any worker, including security staff, from common assault to attempted murder. Sentencing guidelines state that where an assault is committed against a person who works with the public this will be considered as an aggravating factor, meriting a higher sentence.