Preventing and reducing violence against ambulance staff
NHS England commissioned AACE to deliver a Violence Prevention and Reduction Hub specifically designed for NHS ambulance services.
The AACE Violence Prevention and Reduction Hub developed a series of workstreams to support the ambulance sector’s efforts to improve staff safety against a backdrop of a worrying increase in all types of violence, assault and aggression being experienced by NHS ambulance staff.
These assaults include kicking, slapping, head-butting and verbal abuse, and range from common assault to serious attacks involving knives, guns and other weapons.
In one incident alone, two paramedics were stabbed so seriously during a routine welfare check on a patient that their attacker was given a nine-year prison sentence.
Incidences on the increase
Latest AACE figures reveal that the fourteen UK ambulance services recorded 22,536 reported incidents of violence and abuse in 2024-25, a rise of almost 15% from the previous year.
That equates to 62 ambulance colleagues abused every single day, nearly three every hour.
Incidents include:
- Kicking, punching, slapping, head-butting.
- Spitting, verbal abuse, and sexual assault.
- Attacks involving weapons.
And these are just the reported cases – many assaults go unrecorded.
Disturbingly, data shows:
- Female ambulance staff are three times more likely than the NHS average to be assaulted at work.
- Male ambulance staff are twice as likely.
The March 2025 NHS staff survey adds further concern:
- 38% of frontline ambulance staff experienced physical violence in the past year.
- Only 76% of those incidents were reported.
- 52% experienced harassment, bullying or abuse from patients or the public
Combating the violence
The AACE Violence Prevention and Reduction Hub acts as a central resource unit for all UK ambulance services where they can:
- DATA & INFORMATION: Share best practice, expertise and information about all aspects of violence prevention and reduction across the ambulance sector.
- EDUCATION: Promote new and innovative ways to extend skills and knowledge across the sector to help combat the challenges of violence and abuse.
- COLLABORATION: Facilitate a culture of collaborative working through several key workstreams assisting and supporting the ambulance sector, providing a consistent process when managing violence and aggression.
Central, consistent support
The AACE Violence Prevention and Reduction Hub was created to support local violence prevention and reduction teams based within each ambulance service. This is done by:
- Assimilation, coordination and consistency when applying the NHS England Violence Prevention and Reduction Standard by designing a bespoke guidance document specifically focused on the ambulance service.
- Developing a process for reviewing resources, systems and processes held within each ambulance service’s violence prevention and reduction team to share learning and evidence based best practice.
- Reviewing and supporting the creation of a national ambulance data set for incidences of violence, assault and aggression.
Education and training
The AACE Violence Prevention and Reduction Hub is also responsible for the following initiatives:
- A bespoke, evidence-based, best-practice training program is being designed and developed with subject matter experts to support the national education network for ambulance services in delivering staff and patient safety training.
- Supporting NHS England colleagues in the design, delivery and evaluation of violence prevention and reduction education programs for the ambulance service.
Learn more about the VPR’s #WorkWithoutFear campaign here.
Contact AACE at info@aace.org.uk
