Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions for assault on public-facing workers under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 have involved roadworkers; and what assessment she has made of the impact of that provision on sentencing and deterrence.

The Ministry of Justice does not hold data on the number of prosecutions under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (“the Act”) that specifically involve roadworkers. This is because offence data collected centrally does not routinely record the victim’s occupation in sufficient detail to identify roadworkers as a distinct category.

The law provides protections for public-facing workers through this legislation, by creating a statutory aggravating factor, which courts have a duty to consider. This requires courts to treat assaults against such workers as aggravated in sentencing decisions, ensuring that the seriousness of these offences is adequately reflected in sentencing outcomes.