More than 100 emergency services staff assaulted in five months
More than 100 emergency services staff in the West Midlands were assaulted in five months, figures have revealed.
The West Midlands Police figures show that 103 emergency workers were assaulted between November 2018 and March 2019.
The crime figures were revealed as part of a Freedom of Information request to the force by Wolverhampton Liberal Democrats. It showed that only two cases were logged during November 2018, but increased to 29 cases in December 2018. In January and February 22 cases were reported and in March 28 attacks on emergency staff were logged.
Eighty of the assaults were carried out against male emergency staff, while 22 were against female staff.
The figures also revealed that the age of the defendants involved ranged from as young as 14-years-old, to 57-years-old. As a result, 75 people were charged, in five cases the victim supports police action but evidential difficulties prevented further action, three cautions were handed out and two community resolutions were imposed. In a further two cases, police decided the person was too ill or it was not in the public interest to charge the person in question.
The shocking figures come as a recently passed law means people who attack police, firefighters or NHS staff could be jailed for twice as long. The new offence, which came into force in November 2018, doubled the maximum sentence for assaulting an emergency worker from six to 12 months.
Commenting on the figures, Liberal Democrat campaigner Natasha Allmark, said: "Our emergency services demonstrate commitment, courage and dedication on a daily basis. It us utterly sickening that yobs could attack them in the line of duty.
"These dedicated staff signed up to helping and protecting the public, not coming into work each day with the risk of being assaulted.
"I assume Christmas played a part in these figures but just one attack on an NHS worker, police officer or paramedic just doing their job helping people is disgusting.
"Whoever attacks emergency service staff deserves the book thrown at them."
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: ""Violence against emergency workers who work tirelessly to protect and care for others 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is unacceptable and we won't hesitate to pursue criminal action against those responsible."
