Mrs McKenna has met with representatives of Community, the trade union for betting shop staff, to discuss their campaign against violence in betting shops. The union recently made a film about this subject and is also conducting a poster campaign.

Mrs McKenna said: "I welcome efforts by Community to highlight this worrying pattern of anti-social and unacceptable behaviour towards staff in local betting shops.

"I am pleased that Ministers have already demonstrated a willingness to engage with the trade union and I hope that this constructive dialogue can continue. If the government through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Work and Pensions can co-ordinate an approach with local authorities, the police, Scottish Ministers and the industry itself then I am confident that we can clamp down on this worrying trend.

"Violence and intimidation in betting shops – or indeed in any other workplace – is not acceptable and must not be tolerated."