Coronavirus: Business as Usual … for now

CORONAVIRUS ACTION PLAN PUBLISHED

The Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive, and the UK Government have today jointly published an Action Plan setting out a collective approach to the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Scottish Government has also published additional Scotland-specific guidance on its resilience and response arrangements, which provides further detail on how the response will be delivered and coordinated if there is a sustained epidemic.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are well-prepared to deal with a coronavirus outbreak. As well as the four nations’ Action Plan published today, we have also published tailored guidance for Scotland’s unique landscape.

“The Action Plan and the detail of our additional resilience arrangements for Scotland set out very clearly what we know so far about coronavirus, the different phases of managing an infection of this nature, what each phase means and the actions that have been or could potentially be taken at each stage.

“Much of this planning is based on reasonable worst case scenarios which will be refined as our understanding of the virus develops, but it is vital that we are well equipped to deal with all possibilities as this outbreak grows globally.

“We will continue to work closely with the UK Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive as part of a coordinated response to this virus.”

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Scotland is well equipped to deal with infections of this kind and health boards and social care services plan and prepare for a range of emergencies in order to minimise disruption as far as possible.

“We have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues and follow the highest safety standard possible to protect health and social care staff, patients and the public.

“The NHS has been specifically preparing for the possibility of further spread of coronavirus since it was first detected in Wuhan and today’s planning information outlines the processes and protections in place to ensure a coordinated response to this outbreak.”

Scottish Conservative shadow health spokesman Miles Briggs MSP said: “Understandably many people in Lothian are deeply concerned about whether the Scottish NHS will be able to cope with the extreme demands that the Coronavirus will place on it.

“Over the last six years we have seen a significant reduction in hospital beds with the loss of hundreds of acute hospital beds over a six year period.

“The worst case scenario outlined by SNP Ministers and the Chief Medical Officer suggests a high number of vulnerable patients will require hospitalisation. The SNP must therefore consider the worst case scenario and recommission NHS beds across the hospital estate urgently.

“It is the responsibility of all of us regardless of politics to make sure that guidance is followed to help protect individuals and families and to provide advice and assistance especially to the most vulnerable in our society.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the press this morning:

Good morning and thank you for coming along, and I am very glad to be joined this morning by the government’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Advisor.

Today we have published the Coronavirus Action Plan setting out how all four parts of the UK will take all necessary and reasonable steps to tackle this outbreak.

The plan has four strands. Containing the virus, delaying its spread, researching its origins and cure, and finally mitigating the impact should the virus become more widespread. That is, contain, delay, research, mitigate.

And let me be absolutely clear that for the overwhelming majority of people who contract the virus, this will be a mild disease from which they will speedily and fully recover as we’ve already seen.

But I fully understand public concern, your concern, about the global spread of this virus. And it is highly likely that we will see a growing number of UK cases.

And that’s why keeping the country safe is the government’s overriding priority. And our plan means we’re committed to doing everything possible based on the advice of our world leading scientific experts to prepare for all eventualities.

Let’s not forget – we already have a fantastic NHS, fantastic testing systems and fantastic surveillance of the spread of disease.

We will make sure the NHS gets all the support it needs to continue their brilliant response to the virus so far.

The plan does not set out what the government will do, it sets out the steps we could take at the right time along the basis of the scientific advice.

Our country remains extremely well prepared, as it has been since the outbreak began in Wuhan several months ago.

Finally, crucially, we must not forget what we can all do to fight this virus, which is to wash our hands, you knew I was going to say this, but wash our hands with soap and water. And forgive me for repeating this but there will be people who will be tuning into this for the first time: wash your hands with soap and hot water for the length of time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.

It’s simple advice but it’s the single most important thing we can do, as I think our experts would attest.

But at this stage, and with the exception of all of the points I have just mentioned, I want to stress that for the vast majority of the people of this country, we should be going about our business as usual.

Coronavirus_action_plan_-_a_guide_to_what_you_can_expect_across_the_UK

Meet Leith’s youngest Environmental Influencer!

Ten year old Leith Primary School pupil Jakariya Ali posed proudly in front of a billboard showcasing his winning energy-saving poster to celebrate the new Utilita Energy Hub, which is now open in Newkirkgate.

The six local schools and 250 pupils who entered the competition were each tasked with designing an energy-saving poster, to be in with a chance to have their poster displayed on a large billboard in Newhaven Road, and win a £50 voucher.

Each school that entered received £100 and the winning school – Leith Primary School – received £500. All participating schools also received a £500 sports kit, courtesy of Utilita Energy. All artwork is being showcased in the new Leith Energy Hub.

Budding designer and arguably one the UK’s youngest environmental influencers Jakariya Ali, aged 10, learnt he had won the competition at the official Energy Hub opening on Saturday 1st February, where he met Hibernian FC legend Pat Stanton, and was presented the prize by Utilita CEO Bill Bullen.

Jakariya said: “I remember drawing the poster and wishing that mine was chosen, and now here I am standing in front of it. It’s exciting, and my family is really proud.

“The competition has made me think twice about leaving the lights on, that’s for sure.”

Leith Primary’s proud Headteacher Fiona Craig was delighted to learn that Jakariya Ali had won the competition. She said: “As a school we concentrate a lot on the environment, and the importance of saving energy, so it was great to see the messages coming through so strongly in each of the designs.

“I drove past the billboard yesterday, and felt very proud and excited for Jakariya – he’s educating thousands of people who walk and drive past the billboard everyday – it’s such an achievement.”

Bill Bullen, CEO of Utilita, was one of the competition judges. He commented: “We were bowled over by the level of engagement from local schools, and judging the energy-saving posters has been really rewarding – it’s great to see young people so tuned-in to what’s happening to the planet, and why we all need to do our bit in reducing wastage.”

Utilita Energy has opened a new Edinburgh-based Energy Hub as part of the company’s drive to have more face-to-face conversations with people about how to make their energy go further, while paying less.

The Energy Hub is the first of its kind in Scotland, offering face-to-face customer service and removing the need for a call centre. Each energy hub is home to a team of local energy advisors who can offer help and support, as well as educate people on how to make their energy go further. There are fun, interactive apps and jaw-dropping money-saving demonstrations that make being energy efficient fun.

Anyone visiting the Energy Hub can join in the Utilita #EnergyHighFive movement, which gives customers a list of five simple and free-of-charge adjustments to the way energy is used at home, resulting in a potential £163 saving on their annual energy bill. The #EnergyHighFive campaign has been created to enable Utilita to help a minimum of five million homes make their energy go further, while paying less.

Open from Monday to Saturday 9-5.30pm, the Utilita Energy Hub will also sell a variety of Energenie energy-saving devices starting from as little as £9. Many devices are Alexa-enabled, catering for households who have fully-embraced the handsfree power of voice control. There is also a dedicated community space that is open for the public to book and use from Monday to Saturday.

The new Utilita Energy Hub employs seven locals as Utilita Energy Experts. They are all local people who are knowledgeable and passionate about helping people to use less energy at home. There will be four Utilita Energy Experts offering support at all times.

Founded in 2003, Utilita is the UK’s leading Smart PAYG energy company today, specialising in innovative technology that puts its customers in better control of their energy usage than ever before.

After installing a free Smart Meter in the customer’s home or garage, each customer is given a small In-Home Display (IHD), which shows in real-time what energy their home is using in pounds and pence. The free ‘MyUtilita’ app also provides energy usage data as well as other features such as ‘instant top-ups’ and ‘power up’ which is a small interest free-loan, which comes in handy when payday is just around the corner.

Utilita has more than quadrupled in size since 2015 from 180,000 to around 800,000 households and businesses across the UK.

Any local community groups interested in using the dedicated community space free-of-charge can book a session by emailing edinburgh@utilita.co.uk.

£13 million saved from fraudsters

Criminals have been stopped from fraudulently withdrawing around £13 million from bank accounts, according to a new report into serious organised crime in Scotland.

The report, published by the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, also details programmes established to divert young people away from a life of crime and an online training resource which helps identify the signs of serious organised crime. One section highlights the efforts being made to tackle motorcycle crime in Edinburgh.

Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, who chairs the Taskforce meetings, said: “The Taskforce partners have delivered a wide range of activities to tackle serious organised crime – contributing to a safer, fairer and more prosperous country. Among the successes has been the implementation of the Banking Protocol which has been adopted by most of the major banks operating in Scotland.

“Banking staff have prevented more than £13 million from being withdrawn from the accounts of often older or vulnerable people. These incidents tended to centre around conning people into withdrawing their money or paying excessive amounts for work that was not needed or was of poor standard. And in some cases these people have been accompanied at the bank by a member of the group in a bid to get the money.

“The report underlines the continuing grip organised criminals have on some of our most disadvantaged communities and we are determined to do all that we can to make Scotland a hostile environment for anyone who seeks to exploit others.”

Alasdair Macfarlane, Head of Fraud Prevention and Response at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “These types of scams have a devastating impact on our customers’ lives and that’s why our branch colleagues are trained to identify and help prevent these crimes.

“Working in collaboration with Police Scotland we are disrupting these criminals. However, customers should always be aware that we, nor the police, will ever ask a customer to transfer money to a safe account and if asked to do so they should call us on a trusted number and preferably on a different phoneline.”

Major banks operating in Scotland who have signed up to the Banking Protocol include Barclays Bank, Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale, Nationwide, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, TSB Bank.

Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Angela McLaren said: “We are committed to tackling serious and organised and will persistently pursue those who set out to cause harm and misery to our communities.

“By working in collaboration with key partners the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce has already had notable success in detecting and disrupting a number of organised crime groups and crime types.

“This has also included a range of activities to divert people away from becoming involved in serious and organised crime

“We cannot and will not become complacent in our efforts and through the SOC Taskforce we will continue to identify those involved in organised crime, dismantle their operations and bring them before the courts.”

The Serious Organised Crime Taskforce was established in 2007 and has 13 members with more supporting the work taken forward by the Taskforce’s four Strand subgroups.

The progress report outlines the nature and scope of organised crime in Scotland, where there were a total of 112 serious organised crime groups made up of around 2,400 people (as at the end of March 2019). Seventy-two per cent of SOCGs are located in the West of Scotland, 18% in the East and 10 % in the North.

Sixty-nine per cent of SOCGs are involved in drugs crime, 72% are involved in the use of seemingly legitimate businesses. The most common being licensed premises, taxis, restaurants, shops, garage repairs and vehicle maintenance and property development.

As at September 2019 there were 205 individuals, linked to 68 separate crime groups, held in prison custody.

SOC-Task-Force-Progress-Report-2020

‘Behave’ warning ahead of tonight’s capital clash

Police Scotland is requesting fans attending tonight’s Edinburgh derby do so in a responsible manner. The game kicks off at 7.45pm with a capacity crowd expected at Easter Road.

Police Scotland will have a number of officers and specialist resources in and around the stadium and across the city on match day to assist both football clubs and stewards in ensuring the safety of all those attending the game.

Chief Inspector David Happs, Event Police Lead, said: “The Edinburgh derby is one of the most exciting and popular fixtures in the Scottish football calendar. A capacity crowd is expected with more watching from home.

“We want both sets of fans to enjoy the game safely and in the proper spirit. It is essential that supporters act in a responsible manner and do not put themselves or others at risk.

“As such any flare, firework or any controlled container or bottle which could cause harm if thrown, is strictly forbidden from the ground. Items such as flares or smoke devices are dangerous and can endanger your own and others’ safety.

“It is illegal to enter or even attempt to enter the stadium with them so if you are found to be in possession of any prohibited items you are likely to be arrested, face prosecution and a football banning order.

“Criminality will not be tolerated and we will work with both football clubs to identify any person involved.

“There will be a high visibility police presence at the turnstiles to support the steward search operation of those persons entering the stadium. Anyone trying to get into the stadium whilst drunk will not see the game and may also face arrest and prosecution.

“Turnstiles open at 6.45pm and I would encourage spectators to arrive early at the stadium. Enjoy the game and please check the club websites for further details about stadium access and the ground rules.”

Hearts supporters not making the trip across the city can watch the game in the Eighteen74 fans’ bar at Tynecastle.

Tickets will once again include a welcome drink and half-time pie. Tickets are priced at £5 and a cash bar will be open throughout. Special guest speakers Henry Smith and Walter Kidd will be on hand for pre and post-match analysis and interviews.

The Eighteen74 fans’ bar will be open at 5pm with the event starting at 6:30pm.

CLICK HERE to book tickets online

Both Hibs and Hearts go into the derby on the back of Scottish Cup wins. Hibs gave their most impressive performance of the season when they swept away John Robertson’s Inverness Caley Thistle on Friday evening, with their five goals scored by five different scorers.

While Hibs victory was universally expected, Hearts win over Rangers decidely was not. While the Tynecastle side remains deep in the mire at the foot of the Premiership table, the Gorgie men put their league form behind them with a well-deserved 1 – 0 victory – setting up a mouth-watering all-Edinburgh Cup semi-final in the process.

Emphatic victory for either side tonight would see them going into the cup game with a psychological edge, but despite the gulf in their respective league positions this is likely to be a typically tight derby.

Hibs go into the game on a high and, should they reproduce their Friday form their pace will pose a severe threat to a jittery Hearts rearguard. However Hibs fans won’t need reminding that their heroes have often outplayed their city rivals in recent years – only to end up wondering how they managed to lose!

Rock bottom of the league and two points adrift of nearest team Hamilton, this is a game Hearts really can’t afford to lose. Saturday’s cup result was a huge boost for the beleaguered outfit, but they now need to carry this renewed appetite into their league form – and what better game to show that continued improvement than against their oldest rivals?

Hearts coach Daniel Stendel has urged his players to build on their performance against Rangers when they face Hibs in Leith tonight.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s Derby, the German was clear in terms of what will be required of his men on the night.

“The Rangers result was good for everyone; the team, the staff, the supporters. I told the players to enjoy this moment but on Sunday morning the only thing in our head was Hibs,” he said.

“We focused heavily on our defensive work in recent weeks. There was a big improvement against Rangers. Our problems haven’t been about high press or no press, it’s been about discipline and concentration. The biggest thing for me about the Rangers game was how good our discipline was and this must be the case against Hibs as well.”

“We need the same attitude, mentality and quality in our game in order to win the points at Easter Road.

“We have done everything we can to be as prepared as possible. The league is so important and of course it’s against Hibs. My first game against them was not so successful and I hope the second one is better.”

First goal – should there be one – could prove to be crucial.

Not got a ticket? There are some still available and the game is also live on the BT Sport channel.

Hibernian Football Club HeartofMidlothianFC

Pennywell up for RICS Social Impact Award

RICS publishes shortlist of developments which are transforming the everyday lives of residents
35 schemes across nine award categories have been nominated from Shetland to Dumfries
Winners to be announced in April

RICS (Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors) in Scotland are set to vote on a shortlist 35 construction projects to mark their role in transforming communities and the everyday lives of people.

Published this week, the shortlisted construction schemes include ELEVEN from Edinburgh, including Pennywell Phase 2 (residential), Edinburgh Printmakers (heritage, leisure), King’s Stables Road (commercial) (above) and Ciaran’s House, CLIC Sargent Home from Home (healthcare).

Announcing its support for the Prince’s Trust to help more young people take up careers in property, the awards mark the impact of construction on communities across the country – with voting to take place ahead of the RICS Scotland ceremony on 23 April.

A UK grand final will be held later in September for those successfully nominated from each region – with property expert David Brooks Wilson leading a panel of guest judges to select those projects worthy of the top award.

Matthew Howell, RICS UK Managing Director, said: “The real estate industry plays a vital role in Scotland, and our refreshed awards celebrates the positive impact that our professionals can have on people’s lives and the best of what is built.

“This year’s shortlist features some of the best talent in our profession, and the new Social Impact Awards recognises the significant value these projects have brought to the communities around them. The judges will have their work cut out deciding on who gets the top award with so many top projects involved.

“I’m also delighted to be supporting The Prince’s Trust in getting young people into construction. Our shortlists, showcase projects which have been turning people’s lives around, whether that’s through apprenticeships for young people, rehabilitating ex-offenders or regenerating towns and cities to make them more inclusive, and we hope that promoting these will encourage more talent into a profession that can really make a difference.”

Chair of the award judging panel David Brooks Wilson said: “The real estate sector is an important part of the economy, and this year’s shortlist shows the power of built environment professionals to make a positive impact on society and our communities.

“It features the breadth of work and contributions that our professionals and wider industry make and the difference this profession can make.”

The awards are divided into nine award categories to include the best examples of development in the commercial, education, healthcare, heritage, infrastructure, land & rural, leisure, residential and student accommodation sectors – with an overall winner also due to be announced.

RICS Social Impact Awards – Scotland Shortlist 2020

Project Region Categories

4 North                                                Edinburgh                                Commercial
Aberdeen Art Gallery                          Aberdeen                                Heritage
Baird’s Close Two                               Edinburgh                                Student Accommodation
Bertha Park High School: A new
school for a new community               Perth                                       Education
Ciaran’s House – CLIC Sargent
Home from Home                               Edinburgh                                Healthcare
Collective, Caltonhill                           Edinburgh                                Leisure
Cunningham House                            Glasgow                                  Residential
Cupar Burgh Chambers                     Cupar                                      Heritage
Dundee Regional Performance
Centre for Sport                                  Dundee                                   Leisure
Edinburgh Printmakers                       Edinburgh                                Heritage, Leisure
Gairloch Museum                                Gairloch                                   Heritage, Leisure
Glenrothes Energy Network               Glenrothes                              Infrastructure
INTO Academic Centre                      Stirling                                     Education
Kelvinside Academy                           Glasgow                                  Education
Kirn Primary School                            Dunoon                                   Education
King’s Stables Road                           Edinburgh                                Commercial
Mixed-Use Development
National Centre for Children’s Literature
and Storytelling at Moat Brae             Dumfries                                  Heritage, Leisure
North Sighthill Regeneration              Edinburgh                                Residential
NGHA Offices                                     Glasgow                                  Commercial
Ochiltree Community Hub                  Ochiltree                                  Leisure
Panmure House – The Home
of Adam Smith                                    Edinburgh                                Heritage
Pennywell Phase 2                             Edinburgh                                Residential
Perth Transport Futures Project:
Phase 1 Crieff Road                           Perth                                       Infrastructure
Pittodrie Street Student Accommodation:
Getting it right for student living          Aberdeen                                Student Accommodation
Powell Hall & Whitehorn Hall             St Andrews                             Student Accomodaton
Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice Glasgow                                  Healthcare
Robroyston Railway Station               Glasgow                                  Infrastructure
Shawbridge Street                              Glasgow                                  Residential
TECA-creating a world-class
events and leisure complex                Aberdeen                                Commercial, Leisure
The Balfour                                         Orkney                                    Healthcare
The Fraser Centre                              Tranent                                    Leisure
The GRID Building                              Edinburgh                                Education
The Registers                                     Edinburgh                                Commercial
University of Glasgow Campus
Development                                       Glasgow                                  Education
Woodside Health and Care Centre    Glasgow                                  Healthcare

The wait is over: Viccie Baths reopens

Try before you buy – 7 Days for £7

The long-awaited refurbishment of Edinburgh Leisure’s beloved 120-year-old Leith Victoria Swim Centre is over and its refurbished pool reopened to the public yesterday, with some eager customers in the pool at 6am!

While many locals will be familiar with the pool facilities, Edinburgh Leisure are giving locals and potential new members, the opportunity to try before they buy, with a ‘7 Days for £7 promotion, which will run Monday, 2 March until Sunday, 8 March 2020. This pass is only available online and will be valid for 7 days starting from the day of registration. Terms and conditions apply.

Located just off Great Junction Street in Leith, ‘Viccies’ has retained its 19th century charm but added a modern twist to provide everything needed for an active lifestyle, including a 25 yard Victorian pool, a large modern gym, two fitness studios and dedicated cycle studio.

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New report exposes race inequality in the workforce

Millennials from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are 47% more likely to be on a zero-hours contract, and have 10% greater odds of working a second job, compared to their White peers, according to a new report from the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Carnegie UK Trust, and Operation Black Vote.

BAME millennials are also 5% more likely to be doing shift work, and are 4% less likely to have a permanent contract than White workers.

At the report’s launch in Parliament on Monday 2 March, the authors will call on the Government, mental health services and employers to take action to tackle racial inequalities in access to good work.

The research draws on information from a nationally-representative group of more than 7,700 people living in England who were born in 1989-90 and are being followed by a study called Next Steps.

The researchers, led by Dr Morag Henderson (UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies), compared the employment status of 25-year-olds from different ethnic backgrounds – White, Mixed-race, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Black Caribbean, Black African, and other minority ethnicities. They also examined the mental health of people in different types of employment.

Although BAME workers on the whole had more trouble finding stable employment than their White counterparts, experiences in the job market varied for different ethnic groups.

For instance, Pakistani millennials were more likely to be on a zero-hours contract or be working shifts, and less likely to have a permanent job than their White peers. However, Indian and Black Caribbean workers were no more likely than their White counterparts to be in these types of employment.

Black African 25-year-olds had lower odds of being in a permanent role and were more likely to be doing shift work than White workers of the same age. But Mixed-race, Indian and Black Caribbean millennials had similar chances of being in these types of jobs. Only Black Caribbean 25-year-olds were more likely than their White peers to be working a second job.

The findings held even when other factors that could affect labour market success were taken into account, including gender, family background and educational attainment.

The research also showed that, on the whole, millennials from BAME backgrounds were 58% more likely to be unemployed than their White counterparts. But again, experiences differed for each ethnic group. Although 25-year-olds from Pakistani, Black African, and Mixed-race backgrounds were more likely to be unemployed than their White peers, Indian, Bangladeshi and Black Caribbean adults were no more likely to be out of work.

However, even though ethnic minority groups faced more challenges in the labour market, the overwhelming majority of millennials were in permanent employment at age 25. Indian and White workers (89%) were the most likely to be in a stable role, followed by Mixed-race (87%), Black Caribbean (86%), Bangladeshi (85%), Pakistani (84%), Black African (81%) and other ethnicities (80%).

Unfavourable employment status was also found to be linked to mental ill health. While the greatest disparities were between those who were unemployed and those who were working, millennials in unstable employment also suffered poorer mental health than those not working under these conditions.

The connection between employment status and mental health at age 25 held even when the researchers considered whether the participants had mental health problems in their teenage years.

Lord Simon Woolley of Operation Black Vote said: “This report must be a serious wake up call for the Government, industry and our mental health practitioners.

“The race penalty in the work space is further exacerbated by mental health issues. It’s a double hit if you’re from a BAME community. We can, however, turn this around, but we need collective leadership.”

Douglas White from Carnegie UK Trust said: “Good work can have a really positive impact on people’s wellbeing – but we need to tackle the inequalities in who has access to good quality jobs.

“This report highlights that young people from BAME communities are particularly likely to enter into precarious forms of work. We need policy and practice to recognise and respond to this to ensure that good work is available to all.”

Dr Morag Henderson, of the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, said: “Our findings suggest that broad brush policies to improve employment conditions for BAME groups are unlikely to work for everyone.

“We need to better understand what’s driving the particular challenges different ethnic minorities are facing in the job market.”

Responding to the report, Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE said: “These new research findings paint a familiar pattern that I discussed in my Government Review ‘Race in the workplace: persistent race penalties at the lower pay scale’.

A key solution we recommended, and which remains valid, is the introduction of ethnic minority pay reporting. Until organisations publish data and put plans in place to reduce pay gaps, nothing fundamentally changes. It is time for action rather than words.”

The report outlines 13 recommendations for action, including:

Racial inequality, including the ethnicity pay gap, need to be better addressed in Government efforts to improve access to good work.
Employers should carry out internal audits of race disparity, in consultation with their employees and with support from trade unions and race equality bodies.
Developing guidance for mental health services on how to improve access for ethnic minority groups is an urgent priority.

Race-Inequality-in-the-Workforce-Final

USDAW: Shopworkers need legal protection

Too many shopworkers are assaulted and they need the protection of the law, Usdaw will tell a Scottish Parliament Committee today.

Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw will today give evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee in support of the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill, which is being promoted by Daniel Johnson MSP (Labour, Edinburgh Southern).

The Committee will meet at 9.45am in the Scottish Parliament’s David Livingstone Room (CR6).

As well as taking evidence from Usdaw, the committee will also hear from: Law Society of Scotland; Police Scotland; Scottish Grocers’ Federation; Scottish Retail Consortium; The Scottish Beer and Pub Association; Co-operative Group, and GMB.

Usdaw’s 2019 Freedom From Fear survey of over 1,000 Scottish retail workers shows that:

More than 6 in 10 Scottish retail workers experienced verbal abuse.
32% were threatened by a customer.
2.3% were assaulted, which amounts to more than 15* assaults every day across all of Scotland’s shopworkers.

Stewart Forrest, Usdaw Scottish Divisional Officer, said: “Violence, threats and abuse against workers is totally unacceptable and we welcome the opportunity to give evidence in support of Daniel Johnson’s Bill.

“The statistics are shocking, showing that on average a Scottish shopworker can end up on the wrong side of a verbal or physical assault more than once every three weeks. Our message is clear, abuse is not a part of the job.

“Life on the frontline of retail can be pretty tough for many shopworkers and there is still a lot to do to help protect them. We launched our Freedom From Fear Campaign in the face of growing concerns amongst retail staff about violence, threats and abuse. The campaign works with employers to promote respect.

“There needs to be a simple stand-alone offence that is widely recognised and understood by the public, police, the judiciary and most importantly criminals. Retail staff have a crucial role in our communities and that role must be valued and respected, they deserve the protection of the law.”

Voices from the Scottish frontline:

As part of Usdaw’s survey of violence, threats and abuse against shopworkers, respondents have the opportunity to feed back their experiences, here are some examples from Scotland:

Alcohol: Aberdeen – “Customer under influence refused alcohol and became abusive and threatened staff.” Bellshill – “Because Scottish licencing laws are not clear to customers, I receive abuse on a regular occurrence.” Irvine – “Daily abuse from customers under the influence of drugs and alcohol”. Glasgow – “Couldn’t sell alcohol before 10 am got an earful and told I’d ruined her life.” Aberdeenshire – “Refused customer alcohol as they were drunk they tried to grab my hair and grabbed hold of my shirt.”

Age-restricted sales: Broxburn – “Customers very aggressive when refused sale of age restricted products, particularly alcohol. They think it’s ok to shout and swear at you using language that is disgusting and personal insults.” Fife – “ID’d someone who looked about 19, called a ‘ginger c**t’.” Fraserburgh – “Refused customer cigarettes and they started shouting and swearing”. Stranraer – “I was sworn at when I refused sale of a restricted item without ID”.

Throwing goods: Inverurie – “Customer threw items of their shopping at me as they were unhappy about the price.” Aberdeen – “I asked some youths to leave the store and they started throwing things at me.” Dalkeith – “One time a customer threw a computer at the manager.” Stenhousemuir – “His scotch pie, was not hot, he threw it back at me, and it hit my face.”

Sexual harassment: Fife – “Customer talking to members of staff inappropriately forcing members to be feel uncomfortable.” Moray coast – “Usually more sexual harassment that makes me feel extremely threatened and unsafe” Glasgow – “Got flashed by a customer, have had customers grab me and comment on my breasts.”

Shoplifters: Fife – “Shoplifter tried to head-butt me”. Braehead – “Chasing shoplifters – threatened with knife and syringes.” Glasgow – “Shoplifter tried to headbutt and kick me whilst he was being detained. Threatened to find my family using social media and slash their faces.”

Belittling: Wick – “Asked if I was stupid, spoken to like a child.” Dumfries – “I was asked if I was a normal person or not.” Dunfermline – “A customer once told me he wished I’d go away and kill myself for trying to do my job helping him.” Glasgow – “I have been called a fat cow and a jobs worth from shoplifters”.

Assault: Dingwall – “One customer elbowed me on purpose when I went past.” Greenock – “Was attacked and a fag stubbed out on my face.” Stirling – “Shoplifter pushed me over dislocating shoulder”.

Verbal abuse: Dundee – “I have had customers shout at me if something doesn’t go right and called many names, such as b***h and c**t.” Inverness – “A Woman was very upset about our lack of 10p bags and got verbally abusive.” Kilmarnock – “People being rude and bad mannered if they have to wait more than a minute in a queue.”

After work: Edinburgh – “I have been stopped in the street going home and verbally abused by a family member of a shoplifter that I had caught previously that day. I feel very uncomfortable being put in that situation as these people know where I live and are known to be violent!” Irvine – “Got threatened to be done away with because I closing the store!” Glasgow – “Threat to be stabbed, have car smashed up, to be met when finished work, called names, spat at. The list goes on”.

Coronavirus update

The First Minister attended a UK Government COBR meeting and chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government’s Resilience Committee (SGoRR) yesterday to discuss preparations for coronavirus (COVID-19) following confirmation of a first case in Scotland.

At the COBR meeting a four nations Action Plan to tackle the virus was agreed. This will be published in each area today with Scottish-specific information made available alongside the four nations plan.

The Cabinet Secretary for Health will make a statement to Parliament this afternoon.

At SGoRR Ministers were updated on plans preparedness across all sectors in Scotland.

There have been a total of 815 negative test results in Scotland and one positive test result since the start of the outbreak in Wuhan in China.

According to Scottish and UK protocol all patients presenting with a history and symptoms which may be suggestive of coronavirus will be isolated in hospital or at home and appropriate infection prevention and control measures put in place until tests are confirmed.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “The patient who tested positive for COVID-19 is clinically well and is being treated in hospital. I would like to thank the NHS for its response and all of the health professionals involved in the patient’s care and treatment.

“Scotland has been planning for coronavirus for some time. We expect a significant outbreak in the weeks to come but it is important to note that we are still in a containment phase of the virus. This is where we take all of the steps that we can to contain the infection and prevent it taking hold within the community.

“This phase is particularly important because there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for coronavirus. Early detection measures will continue to be vital in helping to prevent the spread of the virus – everyone can play their part by following the latest health and travel advice, and following basic hygiene precautions, such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.”

The UK Government will lay out its plans to contain the spread of coronavirus later today. These include possible school closures, event cancellations and bringing NHS staff out of retirement.

INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO CONTAIN THE VIRUS

United Nations Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock has released US$15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help fund global efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus.

The announcement came as the World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded the global risk of the coronavirus outbreak to “very high” – its top level of risk assessment. The WHO has said there is still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission is broken.

The sudden increases of cases in Italy, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Korea are deeply concerning. There are now cases linked to Iran in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and Oman, along with cases linked to Italy in Algeria, Austria, Croatia, Germany, Spain and Switzerland.

The UN funding has been released to the WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It will fund essential activities including monitoring the spread of the virus, investigating cases, and the operation of national laboratories.

The WHO has called for US$675 million to fund the fight against coronavirus. There is a window of opportunity to contain the spread of the virus if countries take robust measures to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts.

Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock said yesterday: “We do not yet see evidence that the virus is spreading freely. As long as that’s the case, we still have a chance of containing it.

“But swift and robust action must be taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts. We must act now to stop this virus from putting more lives at risk.

“This grant from the UN’s Emergency Fund will help countries with fragile health systems boost their detection and response operations. It has the potential to save the lives of millions of vulnerable people.”

This is a critical juncture in the outbreak. The focus is on containing COVID-19 by strengthening surveillance, conducting thorough outbreak investigations to identify contacts and applying appropriate measures to prevent further spread.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “The potential spread of the virus to countries with weaker health systems is one of our biggest concerns.

“These funds will help support these countries get ready for detecting and isolating cases, protecting their health workers, and treating patients with dignity and appropriate care. This will help us save lives and push back the virus.”

UNICEF is leading on preventative actions in communities across the affected countries with risk communication, providing hygiene and medical kits to schools and health clinics and monitoring the impact of the outbreak to support continuity of care, education and social services.

“At this pivotal moment, every effort must be made to push back against the outbreak,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “These crucial funds will support our global efforts to bolster weaker health systems and inform children, pregnant women and families about how to protect themselves.”

Since it was launched in 2006, CERF has provided more than $6 billion to over 100 countries and helped hundreds of millions of people.