PEOPLE
who attack travel agents will face up to six months in jail under new
guidelines agreed this week.
The
Government has vowed to protect travel agents from harassment and verbal and physical
assaults with increased legal powers.
Under
plans agreed with the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association at the Labour
Party policy forum last weekend, intimidation and attacks on agents will now
carry tougher penalties.
For
the first time, retailers will be protected by anti-social behaviour orders,
which have the power to ban individuals from travel agencies.
Magistrates’
sentencing powers will also increase dramatically when dealing with attacks on
agency staff.
Verbal
and physical attacks will be categorised as ‘aggravated’, increasing the
severity of the penalty. The maximum sentence for an aggravated crime involving
fear, threat of violence or intentional harassment is six months in prison and
a £1,000 fine.
TSSA
head of marketing Mike Katz said: “It makes an attack on a travel agent more
serious than an assault down the pub.”
Home
Office minister Hazel Blears will oversee the changes, which also include
greater protection from police and local authorities’ crime and disorder
reduction partnerships.
Travel
agencies are often targeted by thieves because of their predominantly female
workforce and the amount of cash on the premises, especially those with foreign
exchange facilities.