999 workers attacked 30 times a day in West Midlands
Police officers and NHS workers were attacked more than 30 times a day in the West Midlands last year, new official figures have revealed.
Analysis of Government figures shows there were 11,466 assaults recorded in 2016 - an average of 31.41 a day.
And only 1.55 per cent of the attacks on police and NHS staff led to any criminal prosecution.
The figures were obtained from NHS Protect and show that across the whole of England and Wales the total number of assaults was 100,439.
It comes as Labour MP Chris Bryant prepared to chair a parliamentary debate on the issue, where he will call for a crackdown on thugs who attack emergency services workers.
His Private Members' Bill - which has been backed by ministers - will bid to create a new aggravated offence of assaulting an emergency worker.
Mr Bryant, a former deputy leader of the House of Commons, said: “An attack on an emergency worker is an attack on all of us.
"I hope this bill will signal a zero-tolerance attitude from everyone, the CPS, the courts and the public to these scandalous assaults.
“These shocking figures show just why this new law is needed to protect our protectors.
"The rate of prosecutions for assaults on NHS workers is pitiful, and makes clear just why we need the stronger sentencing this bill will provide.
"The Government need to support this bill to give tougher penalties for assaulting emergency workers and to ensure we send the message in the strongest terms that it will no longer be tolerated.”
The Assaults on Emergency Workers Bill would mean tougher sentences for people who commit a variety of offences against police officers, firefighters, RNLI workers, prison staffs, doctors, paramedics, nurses and other NHS workers while they are doing their duty.
The offences include malicious wounding, grievous or actual bodily harm and common assault.
It is also set to force people who spit at PCs to give blood samples to check if they have a disease.
The Government has announced it will back the bill when it is presented on Friday. A Downing Street spokesman said: "We owe our brave emergency service workers a debt of gratitude for the courage, commitment and dedication they demonstrate in carrying out their duties.
“This crucial change will send a clear message that we will not tolerate attacks on them, and we will work with Chris Bryant and others to ensure those who are violent face the full force of the law.”
