999 CREWS SUFFER 18 ATTACKS A DAY
Call for tougher stance on thugs after rise in assaults on emergency workers
THERE are an average of 18 assaults a day on emergency services workers in Scotland, figures have revealed.
Last year, there were 6509 recorded attacks on police, fire and ambulance staff.
That’s nearly 100 more than in 2016 and it’s the highest figure since 2014.
And the real extent of the problem may be worse as the official statistics do not record some of the more serious incidents.
Other figures from 2016 show that while 260 people were convicted under the Emergency Workers Act, just 58 received a custodial sentence as a result.
Those who assault emergency staff could be hit with 12 months’ jail, a £10,000 fine or both.
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: “There are laws in place to crack down on this very thing and it’s time we started using them.
“The protection of our dedicated emergency service workers has to be absolutely paramount.”
Kerr said there had to be a crackdown on those who commit such offences to make it clear assaults won’t be tolerated.
He said: “Many of these attacks will have occurred when a police officer, paramedic or firefighter has arrived specifically to help the very people who end up assaulting them.
“That’s illogical and unacceptable and the fact these figures may just be a fraction of the whole picture is all the more concerning.
“This is a subject I’ve pressed ministers on repeatedly, but I am yet to see any convincing action.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We have extended the Emergency Workers Act to include GPs and doctors, nurses and midwives working in the community.
“For more serious attacks, other offences can be used with maximum penalties up to life imprisonment.
“All workers deserve protection from abuse and violence at work. Our justice system provides for protection for all workers under our common laws of assault, threatening and abusive behaviour and breach of the peace.
“We fully support our police, prosecutors and courts in dealing robustly with people who offend against public-facing workers.”