Assault on Emergency Workers (Offences) (Repeal) Bill

A

BILL

TO

Repeal the Assault on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2021, and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1. Repeals

The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2021 is hereby repealed.

2. Consequential Amendments

Section 39(2) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 is repealed.

3 Extent, commencement, and short title

(1) This Act extends to England only.

(2) The provisions of this Act shall come into force one month after the day this Act receives Royal Assent.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Assault on Emergency Workers (Offences) (Repeal) Act 2024.

This Bill was submitted by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Right Hon. Lord Fishguard, on behalf of His Majesty’s 34th Government.

The Assault on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2021

The Criminal Justice Act 1988

Opening Speech

Deputy Speaker,

Whilst on paper, the Assault on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act seems like a valuable piece of legislation that protects our emergency workers, in reality it does nothing but overlap laws that already existed. It was already an offence to assault an emergency worker before this act existed. It’s called common assault. I echo some words said by individuals back when this act was proposed to the other place; “This bill also begs a bigger question however, why are we making this specific to emergency workers.” This statement right here, is exactly why I cannot in good faith support the continuance of the Assault on Emergency Workers Act.

Deputy Speaker, back in my youth I worked at a supermarket. I have family members who work in supermarkets, who work in other retail environments. Some of the stories I have heard are simply unacceptable and to that I ask, why are we not protecting them? In addition, nowhere in the meaning of emergency worker section of the act does it protect our police officers. Why are they not protected? The original act is very flawed and in the long run doesn’t actually achieve the goal of its title.

As part of the sentencing guidelines review that is occurring within the Home Office, we will be reviewing whether it is appropriate to further expand the penalty for assault or other anti-social behaviour against emergency workers but also other essential workers to our society.

The idea that there is an Act that creates longer sentences for assault against emergency workers but not other workers who are essential to the functioning of our economy and nation as a whole creates a further divide in our nation. It puts emergency workers, well really only those in healthcare or firefighting only, at a level that is above the rest of society that contribute just as much as they do. This happens while we leave retail workers who are assaulted daily under an ordinary penalty is simply not fair on them. I commend this bill to the House.

Debate under this bill shall end on 27th March at 10pm GMT