News

Around 400 benefit office workers in London were on strike this week, following the government's decision to remove protection screens for benefit offices.

The move, part of the government's Jobcentre Plus scheme which merges Jobcentres and parts of the Benefits Agency, is designed to create an interview-friendly environment.

But people working in benefits offices fear they will be more vulnerable to attack and decided to take action when builders began removing protection screens from offices in Brent and Streatham in London, where Jobcentre Plus is being piloted. The dispute is already into its third week.

A spokesman for the civil service union PCS said: "Over the last 12 months attacks on people working in benefit offices have doubled to over 5,000. Recently a worker in an office in Wakefield was hit with a hammer. We're talking about serious injuries.

"It's all very well for managers to say they want to create a less hostile environment. But the point is some people on benefits have drug, alcohol or mental health problems, which means they can't control their behaviour."

A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said they were fully aware of staff concerns, and that each office would be risk-assessed and measures taken to ensure staff safety. These would include security guards and CCTV cameras.

"Staff will act as a personal adviser to each client - they can't do that or create that kind of relationship from behind a screen," he added.