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Paramedics Face Unprecedented Violence Surge
8 Apr
Summary
- Over 22,500 ambulance workers in England and Wales faced violence last year.
- North East Ambulance Service reported a 47% increase in aggression incidents.
- Middlesbrough recorded the highest assault rate on emergency workers nationally.
Ambulance and paramedic staff across England and Wales are facing a significant increase in violence. Last year, more than 22,500 incidents were reported, encompassing physical assaults, verbal abuse, and attacks with weapons. The North East region is particularly affected, with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) noting a 47% surge in reported aggression over the past 12 months.
This alarming trend translates to an average of 150 incidents monthly. Nationally, figures reveal 94 emergency workers, excluding police, were assaulted on Teesside in the year up to September 2025. Middlesbrough experienced the majority of these attacks, accounting for 66 assaults on paramedics and firefighters in the same period.
These figures place Middlesbrough at the highest assault rate per capita for emergency workers in England and Wales. Officials emphasize that staff are dedicated to providing care and should not endure abuse. Measures such as body-worn cameras are being used to deter attacks and aid prosecutions, with a plea for public courtesy and respect.
