By Katy Gilzean

THE SCOTTISH Ambulance Service said yesterday that figures showing a rise in assaults on ambulance staff in Scotland in the last year was a “sad reflection on the society we live in today.”

Figures released by the Scottish Executive show an 8.9% rise in assaults against ambulance staff across the whole of Scotland between 2004 and 2005.

This comes after the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act came into force in 2005, which made it a specific offence to assault, obstruct or hinder someone providing an emergency service or assisting an emergency worker.

When the legislation was brought in, finance and public service reform minister Tom McCabe said, “People who deal with emergencies provide an invaluable service to our society.

“We believe they should be able to go about their work without fear of attack or intimidation.”

The maximum penalty under the bill is nine months’ imprisonment, a fine of £5000—or both.

The new figures show the total incidents reported for all ambulance staff including verbal and physical incidents and threats.

The data shows that assaults in Tayside went up from 10 to 14, giving a 40% rise. Figures in Lanarkshire went up 100% from 15 to 30, and 233% in the Highlands from three to 10.

However, in Fife, figures dropped by 33% from 12 to eight assaults.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service said that physical assaults accounted for a very small percentage of the figures, nevertheless crews should not be subjected to any kind of assault—verbal or physical.

“An ambulance crew’s single role is to help people and to save lives and we find it astonishing and inexplicable that anyone would want to threaten or assault an ambulance crew.

“It is a sad reflection on the society we live in today when paramedics are rushing out to help save lives and have to deal with abusive behaviour.

“The Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act 2005 may not prevent attacks from taking place, but will ensure justice is brought upon those who instigate attacks, and that may be an effective deterrent.”

Last November ambulance drivers called for all crews across the UK to be given body armour.

Members of the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel (APAP), the trade union for ambulance staff, believe crews need to be better protected against attackers.

A survey of delegates at their annual conference found 13 out of the 15 ambulance trusts represented wanted body armour in the form of stab vests or dual-purpose vests which also protect against ballistic attacks.

Union spokesman Jonathan Fox said, “Staff feel let down and there is a consensus that management are waiting for somebody to die before they come together as one and provide vests for their staff.”

London Ambulance staff were given vests in 2002 and Essex Ambulance Service introduced them in May last year. But they are the only services in the country to routinely use them.

Dundee West MSP Kate Maclean said the rise in assaults on ambulance workers was very unsatisfactory.

She said, “It is very disappointing that the figures have gone up.

“The legislation was meant to stop people from attacking emergency workers and I will go back to the Executive and ask for answers.

“I am very concerned that the figures have risen.”