The representative body for the chief executives of all UK ambulance services, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, has called for tougher sentences to be routinely given to people found guilty of attacks on emergency services workers, following the Crown Prosecution Service’s announcement (07 January 2020) that 50 people are being prosecuted each day under the recently introduced Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act.
Managing Director of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives Martin Flaherty OBE says:
We obviously welcome this increase in prosecutions but we now need to see the judiciary playing their part by routinely handing out tougher sentences to those who punch, kick, spit at, attack or verbally abuse ambulance staff who are trying to help care for patients and save lives.
Sadly this is happening on a daily basis across the UK and until the perpetrators get the most powerful message possible that it is unacceptable and abhorrent to attack emergency workers who are trying to help them or their loved ones, we fear that the hard work put into getting this law passed will have been in vain.
