The STUC and Community, which represents betting shop workers, joined with MSPs from all parties in the Scottish Parliament to launch the poster campaign to eliminate violence against betting shop workers.

Summary.

• Betting shop robberies have increased averaging approximately 5 per day.

• There are around 900 betting shops in Scotland.

• Around 4500 staff are currently employed in the sector.

• Betting shop chains provide limited support for staff who have been victims of a violent robbery and many staff return to work after threats of losing their sick pay.

The Campaign

Community and its members are concerned at the unwillingness of the betting shop chains to liaise with the relevant agencies to protect their employees and reduce the feeling of vulnerability which is widespread within the industry and growing.

The Safety Poster Campaign highlights the unacceptability of violence against betting shop workers and will be displayed in betting shops across Scotland.

There are mutual interests in that we, Community and MSPs, work to better and make safer Scottish peoples lives’ both at a local and national level whether they live and/or work in your constituencies.

Betting shop robberies/violence is an important issue which impacts on communities within constituencies and this offers a unique opportunity to work together and add to the support already given from the STUC, HSE, RACS, and Police to improve conditions for workers in the Scottish betting shops.

Background

Community began organising within betting shops approximately 4 years ago. Very quickly workers became more confident about speaking out about their workplace issues and conditions and then membership grew rapidly.

Since the review of the Gambling Act which afforded the opportunity for betting shop chains to operate longer hours there has been a significant rise in shop robberies - approx 5 reported incidents per day - Community has anecdotal evidence that many incidents go unreported.

• There are approximately 900 betting shops in Scotland with 500+ granted licences yet to become active

• Community estimates 4500 staff are currently employed in this sector (working to a ration of 5 employees per shop).

• If all licences become active, this figure would increase to around 7000 staff (if support staff such as cleaners are included, it is estimated it could total around 8000 employees)

Incidents Summary

The following incidents are just some examples of the incidents reports of robberies and violence recorded by Community in 2007.

Shop Robbery:

• Armed Robbery - firearm; meat cleaver; machete; sword; knife; baseball bat; cosh

• Snatch Robbery – Robbers reach over counter to grab money from till.

• Equipment Robbery – Plasma screens stolen from shop.

Incidents- Physical

Staff physically assaulted

• Staff kicked/punched

• Pen thrown at staff –regular occurrence Staff physically threatened

• Fireworks thrown into shop

• Stones thrown at staff and shop

Incidents – Verbal

Staff Threatened

• Threat to wait until closing time for staff - many leave shop late at night.

• Physical threat to staff & family

• Threat to find home of staff and carry out attack on staff & family

• Verbal abuse/insults – daily occurrence.

Download pdf poster here

A motion was laid by John Park MSP, who has been supporting the Community campaign, in the Scottish Parliament to accompany the campaign launch

S3M-01347 John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Labour): Violence Against Betting Shop Workers—

That the Parliament notes with concern the increase in physical and verbal abuse and intimidation faced by betting shop workers and the parallel rise in violent betting shop robberies; recognises that many workers do not receive adequate support from their employers following such traumatic incidents; regrets that the prevalence of workplace violence leads to a culture among employees, many of whom are lone female workers, of viewing such abuse as part of the job; acknowledges the work carried out by the trade union, Community, in challenging the problems of violence faced by its members in betting shops across Scotland, and welcomes the safety poster launch on 21 February 2008 in the Parliament to further raise awareness of Community's campaign to stop violence against betting shop workers.

Supported by: Claire Baker, Bill Butler, Dr Elaine Murray, Marlyn Glen, Des McNulty, Michael McMahon, George Foulkes, Marilyn Livingstone, David Whitton, James Kelly, Helen Eadie, Cathie Craigie, Jackie Baillie, Ken Macintosh, Dr Richard Simpson, Duncan McNeil, Patricia Ferguson, Dr Bill Wilson, Andy Kerr, Bill Kidd, Aileen Campbell, Joe FitzPatrick, Elaine Smith, Malcolm Chisholm, Bob Doris, Dave Thompson, Jim Tolson, Sarah Boyack, Jamie Hepburn, Trish Godman, Mr Frank McAveety, Cathy Peattie, Gil Paterson, Tom McCabe, Sandra White, Hugh Henry

Lodged on Wednesday, February 13, 2008; Current

We will carry further reports on this campaign in future editions of the ebrief