As retail workers attack laws move forward, banks need to protect employees equally
The UK's banking industry urges the government to expand new legal protections to retail workers to expand to banks and branch employees that build society, warning them of similar risks of abuse, violence and intimidation.
The proposed new independent crime is proposed under the Government's Crime and Police Bill, which is currently underway through Parliament. The measure, originally promised by the previous Conservative government and now by Labor, would make a specific criminal offence attacking retail workers a specific criminal offence with criminals facing up to six months in prison and/or unlimited fines.
But UK Finance, a trading body representing the banking industry, said the bill does not include employees of the banking and construction association, despite reported 10,503 incidents of abuse of branches last year.
“This exclusion is unfairly discriminating against branches,” the UK Finance Department said in its submission to Parliament. “Like other client-facing workers, they should feel safe at work. Attacks on bank employees should have the same consequences.”
It believes that bank branches play a unique role in the streets, often dealing with emotional situations related to people’s personal finance, safety and desires.
UK finance also pointed out that protests against bank branches have increased environmental and geopolitical issues.
Last year, pro-Palestine activists accused of contact with companies that provide weapons to Israel, and several Barclays branches were damaged last year. Protesters disrupted the bank's annual shareholders' meeting earlier this month, waving the Palestinian flag.
HSBC and Standard Chartered Areas have also seen their UK headquarters targeted by climate activists for fossil fuel financing, raising concerns over the safety of staff and customers during the demonstrations.
“Banks that protest against loans to defence companies are often big and violent,” the UK finance said. “Innocent branch staff or the public face real risk of harm.”
Although ordinary attacks have become a crime under British law, the retail sector has successfully lobbyed for special charges, citing the increasing number of incidents of violence and abuse.
The government under Rishi Sunak initially boycotted but reversed its stance before the last election. Although the legislation was revoked during the dissolution of the parliament, the new Labour government has restored the proposal with a crime of focusing on retail workers.
“When working, no one should be attacked, and the government is taking strong actions to address shop theft and protect retail workers,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
But for banking personnel, despite similar public scenarios, the lack of proposed crimes has brought them legally to light.
The UK Treasury now calls for amendments to the bill to ensure branch staff receive the same legal protection as retail.
With workplace violence and protest-related threats rising across the financial sector, industry leaders believe that all employees facing the public should be equally protected under the law – whether they sell groceries or deal with personal savings.
