Courts urged to take pub attacks more seriously

A campaign that calls for tougher sentences for those who attack licensees is celebrating a success - but warned that more work needs to be done.

The National Pubwatch Court Not Caution campaign was given a boost with the publication of new Sentencing Council guidelines.

A report following a detailed consultation on the matter specifically calls for courts and police to treat attacks of pub staff as aggravating factors.

It states: "The new format of the guideline also makes it easier for sentence to identify the most important factors increasing the seriousness of an offence.

"This includes offences committed against those working in the public sector or providing a service to the public.

"The broad wording would encompass both those providing vital services to the public, such as emergency services personnel, but also those working, for example, as pub staff and shop workers."

Steve Baker, chairman of National Pubwatch, said the news was "encouraging" but warned that the campaign to educated courts and police on the matter would carry on.

He said: "While I welcome this it is important to note that the guidelines haven't changed, just the advice on how they can be interpreted.

"I have already written to the Sentencing Council to ask for clarification on how they are going to ensure that this is effective."

He added that the onus could be on injured licensees to ensure police know that attacks on them in the work place should be treated seriously.

"We need to let licensees know that if they are attacked they should let police know that this is an aggravating factor."

More than 400 people responded to the consultation, including judges, magistrates lawyers and the police.

The Sentencing Council has also vowed to put more emphasis on the harm caused by an attack rather than the int