IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WORKING CONDITIONS OF BETTING SHOP STAFF

That this House notes, as highlighted by the tragic death of a betting shop worker in Morden recently, that staff in UK betting shops are subject to risk from assault and abuse on a daily basis; believes that this risk is significantly enhanced by longer opening hours and single staffing in betting shops; further believes that the risk to betting shop staff has also increased as a result of the rise in the number of fixed odds betting terminals; recognises that the introduction of the Voluntary Code of Safety and Security produced by the Safebet Alliance - which includes the major bookmaking operators, Community, the trades union representing UK betting shop staff and other industry stakeholders - led to a 46 per cent decrease in robberies; and calls on the Government to reconvene talks between members of the Safebet Alliance to deliver further, much-needed improvements in safety and security standards for betting shop staff.