Responding to the figures published by the Royal College of Nursing, Helen Vine, Assistant Director, Association of Ambulance Chief Executives said:
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN)’s findings are deeply alarming, and they echo what we hear from our own ambulance workforce. Our frontline ambulance crews, call centre colleagues and volunteers deserve to feel safe, respected and protected while delivering lifesaving care. No one should face racist abuse, discrimination or violence as part of their working day.
“The RCN’s data shows more than 21,000 incidents of racism reported by nursing staff in the past four years – a 78% increase – with racist abuse occurring every 77 minutes in 2025. We know the true scale is higher, as many staff do not report incidents due to fear of retaliation or a belief that nothing will change.
“Ambulance colleagues are facing similar and escalating harm. In April 2025, AACE reported 22,536 incidents of violence, aggression and abuse in 2024/25 – a 14.8% rise and the highest ever recorded. This continues a worrying trend: 15,430 incidents in 2021/22, 15,857 in 2022/23, and 19,633 in 2023/24. Every day, at least 62 ambulance colleagues are attacked, including through physical violence, sexual assault and abuse. The NHS Staff Survey shows 38% of operational ambulance staff experienced physical violence last year, yet nearly a quarter did not report it.
“These incidents have profound consequences. Many frontline teams and call handlers leave their roles due to trauma or illness, and despite service‑wide initiatives, the situation is worsening.
“Low conviction rates and lenient sentences fail to deter offenders, which is why AACE is lobbying ministers across all four UK nations to strengthen prevention, protection and response measures. We welcome new CPS guidance to speed up convictions and proposals in the Police and Crime Bill to expand legal protections, particularly for abuse occurring in private dwellings. But more is needed. Tougher sentences alone are not enough; restorative justice and diversionary approaches for first‑time offenders also show promise in reducing reoffending.
Ambulance services across the UK remain unequivocal in challenging racism in all its forms. Through the #WorkWithoutFear campaign, we continue to highlight this serious issue and to improve reporting pathways and ensure meaningful consequences for those who perpetrate abuse.
“At a time of rising community tensions, including overt acts of Islamophobia and antisemitism, some of our colleagues are understandably fearful and anxious.
We want to be absolutely clear: we will not remain silent on racially motivated abuse. We will challenge it when we see it, and we will support our teams to do the same. Our people are entitled to work free from discrimination, intimidation and harm.”
