Call for tougher sentences for people who attack ambulance staff

Kicked, punched, spat at, had knife pointed at them, threatened with death - that's just a few of the experiences frontline ambulance staff have had to put up with over the last six months in the West Midlands.

New figures which were revealed at the Trust’s Board meeting show that for the first six months of the year (April – September), the number of physical assaults on staff rose by almost 30% to a disgusting 139 incidents. The number of verbal assaults also rose, by 13% to 246 incidents reported.

Based on the appalling statistics, Trust Chief Executive Anthony Marsh is to write to the Chairs of Magistrates Benches across the Region asking them to take the toughest possible action against members of the public who assault Trust staff.

Mr Marsh, said: “It is quite outrageous that our staff are having to put up with such violence. The Board is determined that we should do everything possible to protect our staff.

“We are asking them to support us by taking the toughest possible action against people who assault staff. We know the public abhor this violence so we are hopeful that they will support this move.”

Regional Security Manager, Steve Elliker, said: “The penalties handed down are simply not sufficient to deter people currently. We need sentences to be a deterrent so that people think twice before they attack our staff.

“The fact that some of our staff do not report cases of violence because they do not believe that enough action will be taken against the perpetrator is a sad reflection on how they feel.

“We are working hard to change that perception but we want the courts to support us 100% so that this dreadful situation can be changed for the better.”