Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC), Neil Johnston said he welcomed the confirmation from the Justice Minister that the Bill would be introduced before Christmas.

Justice Minister, Naomi Long had previously announced her proposal to introduce a Sentencing Bill in Northern Ireland to make assault of public facing workers a specific criminal offence.

NIRC and Usdaw had written to the Minister on this subject and met with her last October.

Neil Johnston said the confirmation of the introduction before Christmas was good news.

“This is very welcome news, not least because Naomi Long has included in this Bill a new offence of assaulting a person providing a public service, performing a public duty or providing services to the public,” he said.

The offence will include those working in a retail environment and will carry a higher maximum sentence in the magistrates’ courts than that currently available for common assault (12 months rather than the normal magistrates’ courts maximum of six months).

The fact that the victim of a more serious assault is providing a service to the public or performing a public duty will also be made a statutory aggravating factor.

NIRC, in conjunction with the shop workers trade union USDAW, has been championing the cause of giving retail workers better legal protection from assault.

“NIRC was delighted to receive written confirmation that the Sentencing Bill is to begin its legislative journey in the next few weeks,” said Mr Johnston.

“It is imperative that all the political parties work together on the Justice Committee and in the Assembly Chamber to ensure that this Bill becomes an Act within the current Assembly term.

“Sadly, the levels of abuse and violence against shop workers have escalated in recent years and action is needed.”

The post Sentencing Bill to be introduced to Assembly before Christmas first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

If the smuggling attempts had not been detected, it would have cost the Treasury approximately £7.24 million in unpaid duty and VAT.

Border Force

In the first operation Border Force officers detected 4.44 tonnes of tobacco that arrived into Northern Ireland from Germany. The container was shipped from Rotterdam to Belfast and was destined for an address in County Down.  Thirty six pallets within the load contained the tobacco which appeared to be Euro Bins Polyester. Markings on the pouches indicate the tobacco originated in Luxemburg.  The revenue and VAT evaded would have been approximately £1.44 million.

In the second operation, 15.12 million cigarettes were detected at Belfast Docks after two containers were examined after arriving from Vietnam via Rotterdam.  The containers appeared to be wooden furniture and were destined for an address in Belfast.  A couple of rows of cover load was used at the front, with the boxes of cigarettes behind. Each box contained 40,000 ‘Yett Virginia’ branded cigarettes. The revenue and VAT evaded would have been £5.8 million.

Seizures

Both seizures were referred to HMRC for further investigation.

Naomi Long said:“Revenue and VAT evasion are not victimless crimes: this is the money we use to pay for our health service, education and infrastructure being stolen to fund all manner of illegal activity. I strongly commend Border Force for their vigilance in seizing these goods. I also urge people not to purchase such goods and play a part in disrupting organised criminality by reporting any suspicious activity to the PSNI. We all need to work together to prevent criminals profiting from their illegal activities, and to bring to justice those who continue to wreak havoc across our communities. As Justice Minister, I will continue to do all I can to support the OCTF partners so that we can all live in a safer Northern Ireland where we respect the law and each other.”

Smuggling

John-Jo Oldham Assistant Director of Border Force NI said: “These seizures demonstrate our commitment in tackling cigarette and tobacco smuggling. Working with our Organised Crime Task Force partners we are determined to stop the illicit trade in tobacco products. This is not a victimless crime and is often linked with other criminality. Children and young people are key targets for those who peddle illegal tobacco and cigarettes, encouraging them to take up smoking and exposing them to crime.”

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The post Border Force vigilance thwarts cigarette and tobacco smuggling first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.