A DISTRICT MP is stepping-up his campaign to get assault against a shopworker made a specific criminal offence.

Philip Davies, whose Shipley constituency includes Menston and Burley-in-Wharfedale, has raised the issue in parliament.

He says the move, which should also include other frontline workers, would help thank them for their “tireless” efforts during the pandemic and send out a clear message that violence against them won’t be tolerated.

Mr Davies said the Government “owed it to the hard-working staff who have effectively policed Covid rules” to crack down on rising numbers of assaults against workers.

He is calling for the specific offence to be included as part of the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill currently before parliament.

Mr Davies said: “This is a really important moment for the Government and I hope they will show they are on the side of our shopworkers and frontline workers who we owe so much to, particularly over the last 15 months.

“As someone who worked for Asda for 12 years before becoming an MP, I feel very strongly about the issue of violence against shopworkers.

“These are very often lowly-paid people who are expected by the Government to in effect enforce the law, whether it is on age restrictions or in recent times Covid rules and restrictions and face-mask wearing and social distancing.

“The only thanks that many of these people have had for keeping the nation fed during the Covid restrictions and going out to work every day, is to see the number of assaults on them soar. It is an absolute disgrace.”

The Government says it is committed to protecting workers and that court judges already have powers to hand out longer sentences, because when people who deal with the public are assaulted that is classed as an aggravating factor.

But Mr Davies wants a separate offence, as is already the case for assaulting an emergency worker.

He added: “Shop and frontline workers deserve our support. They have done so much for us in recent years and the very least they can expect from parliament is for them to know we are on their side – and that we respect the work they have done and understand the terrible abuse that they get, for very little reward often, at the hands of customers. We should be there to protect them.”

According to the union, Usdaw, the number of assaults on shopworkers has doubled since the start of the pandemic.