Home / Crime and Justice / Paramedics Face Daily Abuse: Attacks on NWAS Staff Surge
Paramedics Face Daily Abuse: Attacks on NWAS Staff Surge
14 Dec
Summary
- Paramedics endure daily verbal abuse, with at least one incident recorded each day.
- NWAS staff face physical assaults including punching, kicking, and sexual assault.
- The ambulance service is strengthening support and prosecuting offenders to ensure safety.
Paramedics across the North West are experiencing a disturbing rise in violent incidents and daily abuse, according to North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). Staff are subjected to a range of assaults, including punching, kicking, racial abuse, and sexual assault while carrying out their duties. This trend is not isolated to NWAS but is reportedly seen across all ambulance services nationally.
To combat this, NWAS is urging all staff to report incidents, emphasizing that such abuse is not an acceptable part of the job. The service is committed to providing robust psychological support to those affected, acknowledging the fear and impact returning to work can have. Enhanced support teams and violence prevention specialists have been appointed across the region to offer direct assistance.
NWAS also issued a strong warning to the public, vowing to take robust action and seek prosecution for any assault or verbal abuse against paramedics. The service highlights high conviction rates in public interest cases, underscoring their commitment to ensuring staff safety and security within the workplace.
