Calls for action to combat growing number of violent assaults on ambulance workers
24/04/2025
In the South Central Ambulance Service area there were an average of just over 95 incidents every month
The ambulance service which serves Banbury has joined calls for action to help combat the growing number of violent assaults against ambulance workers in the UK.
Within the South Central Ambulance Service area there were an average of just over 95 incidents recorded every month in the year up to the end of March. That means that at least three members of staff were abused or attacked every day.
The Trust is supporting the calls made by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives for further national policy interventions.
Across the country reported incidents of violence, aggression and abuse recorded against ambulance service staff was up almost 15 percent on the previous year. These included kicking, punching, slapping, head-butting, spitting, verbal abuse and sexual assault.
Kirsten Willis-Drewett, assistant director or operations at SCAS, said: “Unfortunately we know that staff out on the road and in our control room face unacceptable physical and verbal abuse every day, and we wholeheartedly support AACE’s calls for more action to address this rising problem. We have worked with our local police forces to secure convictions against people who have attacked our staff and current legislation can see such perpetrators jailed for up to two years.
“As well as providing our staff with body worn cameras, and additional training to keep themselves safe when dealing with challenging situations or behaviours, we offer our staff a range of support should they be the victims of verbal or physical abuse. But with the numbers of such attacks now at record levels, more action at a national level is needed.”
The summer months are when the most incidents occurred, with alcohol the most prominent factor, followed by drugs and people in mental health crisis. Race and sexuality have also increased as exacerbating factors in these assaults.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
