Ambulance crews across the Black Country and Birmingham are to spend almost £1 million on trialling the use of stab-proof vests after dozens of attacks on paramedics – with weapons used ranging from bags to false legs.
The move follows 67 reported assaults on crews between April 2007 and last month, prompting a review of health and safety rules.
The vests have to be made to individual specifications and the cost of eventually equipping all crews could be about £840,000.
Weapons used on crews included a false leg, rucksack, a kettle and a TV remote control.
The region’s attacks account for more than half of the assaults on West Midlands Ambulance Service staff across the whole region, including Staffordshire, Shropshire, Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Diane Lee, who is the director of corporate services, said that a survey of workers had shown that 475 were in favour of wearing stab vests and 201 against.
4 Comments
how sad when our country comes to this.i hope when the people who do these things think about it the next time they need emergency services its a pity the emergency staff couldnt leave them in the gutter where they belong.mind you they would soon sue them then
Doesn’t this story just tell you everything you need to know about law and order in this country under New Labour!
What have we come too when Ambulance Crews, trying to give first aid or indeed emergency aid, are attacked? Suppose its the mindless idiots who drink super strength lager all day whilst watching daytime tv, claiming benefits because they are to ill to work with back ache!! Get them all stab vests an whilst your at it give them tazers too!!!!
Yes as said above, all under a “New Labour” Government. What a disgrace.
Our Emergency services being attacked by the mindless scum and what do the government come up with…let them wear stab vests.
Don’t the numpties realise that the vests don’t protect the neck,arms or legs.
The protection the Government can give our Emergency Service Workers and the rest of folk is a proper “Justice” System and Deterrents.
But what can one say when the news today is that the Government is letting “TERRORISTS” out of jail
early!!!!!!!!
So much for Blair and New Labours “War on Terrorism”
Disgrace.