EVESHAM’s MP Nigel Huddleston has pledged his support for new Government legislation which will increase protection for members of emergency services who are assaulted while on duty.
The Assault on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill will increase protection for emergency services facing assault and increases the maximum sentence for assaulting an emergency worker from six months to 12 months.
It covers a broad range of emergency service workers including police, prison officers, custody officers, fire service personnel, search and rescue services and many healthcare workers including ambulance personnel.
Mr Huddleston said while the fact the bill was even necessary is regrettable, the statistics on rising assaults against emergency service workers suggest the current law may not be going far enough in protecting these workers and demonstrating how serious an offence assaulting one is.
He said since 2012, there have been 1,597 physical assaults reported by West Midlands ambulance workers alone and physical assaults on NHS staff in England increased by 9.7 per cent last year.
“Every day, emergency service workers across the country leave their families to go to work in what are often highly stressful, demanding conditions,” he said.
“Whether they are a police officer, a prison officer, a firefighter, or indeed any other emergency worker, they have taken the brave decision to work in public service protecting their fellow citizens and they should be able to do so without fear of being attacked.
“I hope this bill sends a clear message to emergency service workers about how deeply they are valued, and provides reassurance that they do not need to tolerate abuse and assault while carrying out their duties and those who are violent towards them will face the full force of the law.”
