News

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.