‘Get tougher’ on 999 attackers

and chief executive Helen Ray, written on behalf of the Trust’s Board of Directors, reads: “The violence and frequency of these assaults has left us gravely concerned and our crews anxious for their own safety.

“While we recognise that the sentencing by courts will take account of the severity of the crime, our experience is that the verbal abuse and intimidating behaviour can have as long-lasting impact on individuals as some physical violence.

“It is apparent that while the courts already have the power to imprison a defendant for up to 12 months, they are not using them.

"My Board believes that the courts need to use their full powers.

"There should be an expectation that if you commit such an offence, the most likely outcome is prison.

“Sentences should also act as a deterrent as well as a punishment.

"If we are serious about sending a message of support to our emergency workers, and a message of toughness to those who commit offences against them, increasing maximum sentences is not the way.

"Imposing maximum sentences in the first place is.”

The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 allows courts to impose a maximum of 12 months in prison on anyone found guilty of assaulting a police officer, firefighter, prison officer or paramedic.

The latest consultation looked at whether to double the maximum sentence to two years imprisonment.

NEAS staff experience 12 assaults per week on average, two of which involve physical violence.