Ladbrokes accused of 'putting profits ahead of health and safety' after one worker was raped and another killed while working alone

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Beaten to death: Ladbrokes store manager Andrew Iacovou  was killed by a gambler in 2013

Ladbrokes has been accused of putting employees at risk by asking staff to work in betting shops alone.

A former employee claimed the company is choosing to 'prioritise profits over health and safety' by continuing the practice despite attacks on members of staff.

The set-up, known as single-manning, has previously been criticised by staff, MPs and trade unions.   

Ladbrokes' former Head of Health and Safety, Bill Bennett, spoke out against single-manning at an employment tribunal. He claimed he had been sacked by the company for blowing the whistle on the controversial practice. 

This was disputed by the betting giant.

According to the Daily Mirror, Mr Bennett told the tribunal: 'Ladbrokes chose to prioritise profit over the health and safety of its employees.'

Ladbrokes chief executive Jim Mullen acknowledged there had been 'serious systemic failures' in health and safety procedures but dismissed the suggestion he had put 'profits before lives' as 'bunkum'. He added: 'Health and safety is a non-negotiable part of the business.' 

The judge dismissed Mr Bennett's application. In a statement, Ladbrokes said Mr Bennett had been dismissed because he was unable to fulfill his role.

A spokesman said the company is in the process of changing the policy to 'voluntary only in the evenings' across its stores.  

It comes after a Ladbrokes employee was reportedly raped and left for dead by an attacker who dragged the victim into an area of the shop without CCTV.

And in 2013 store manager Andrew Iacovou, a married father-of-three, was brutally beaten to death by a gambler at a branch of Ladbrokes in Morden, Surrey.

The court heard how killer Shafique Aarij deliberately targeted the bookmakers when he knew only one member of staff was present.

Single-manning has been widely criticised by betting shop staff writing on online forums. 

Describing the 'cons' of working for Ladbrokes, one female employee wrote: 'Single manning is awful, as a young woman, working alone in the morning and especially until 10 at night, i feel very unsafe and often just feel like an easy target for would be robbers.' 

Complaints: Employees have said online that they feel 'unsafe' working alone at Ladbrokes. File image

Another said: 'Unfair and dangerous single-manning for hours on end, even full days.'

A third posted: 'Although I did not personally feel unsafe during my time working late hours alone at Ladbrokes I consider this a risk and a possible accident waiting to happen.'

The Community union, which represents many betting industry employees, has previously said single-manning makes staff feel 'very vulnerable' and said it put people 'at risk of verbal and physical assault'. 

A spokesperson from Ladbrokes said Mr Bennett's claims are part of an attempt to 'secure a significant amount of compensation from Ladbrokes. 

He said: 'We dispute his claims and will rigorously defend ourselves through the Employment Tribunal process. Our position is very different to Mr Bennett's and we will make that very clear through that process.

'With regard to the ongoing change in our policy to "voluntary only in the evenings", it was announced last year that it would be introduced and implemented from Jan 2016.

'We are in the process of rolling out the new arrangements and have been recruiting over 850 extra employees to help us deliver it.

'Mr Bennett was dismissed owing to a lack of confidence in his ability to fulfill his role of Head of Health & Safety, which is a non-negotiable for Ladbrokes, to the required standard.

'The judge dismissed Mr Bennett’s application for interim relief at a tribunal hearing.'