Paramedics unite to stop violence

Lots of attacks on ambulance staff go unreported

Ambulance staff are calling for urgent action to stop the growing number of violent attacks made against them.

Seven Midlands counties have been meeting to discuss the problem after a paramedic lost an eye when a brick was thrown through his windscreen.

They have called for tougher penalties and help from the community.

Mick Sennell, of Warwickshire Ambulance Service, called for courts to show "zero tolerance" towards the attacks.

Mick Sennell: "Zero tolerance"

"People who think it is fun to assault ambulance crews for whatever reason will know how serious it is.

"Within Warwickshire we have experienced several assaults in a month, some of which have been quite serious and others which don't go reported because they are minor.

"I believe some calls are hoax calls to get crews into a situation where they are attacked.

"Lots of attacks go unreported. From my own point of view, the threat of violence has been there. I think crews accept it now as a way of life and part of their job." .

Nick Horobin was operated on for eight hours

Last week paramedic Nick Horobin lost an eye when a brick was thrown through the windscreen of his ambulance in Derbyshire.

Phil Morris, spokesman for the East Midlands Ambulance Service said: "The attack has shocked the whole organisation and it wasn't a one-off, there have been a series of attacks on vehicles travelling along that road."

Plea to community

Ambulance leaders said unprovoked assaults on crews are on the increase.

"It's very much to appeal to people's better nature that we want them to stop these attacks on people that are trying to help them," said Mr Morris.

"Feeling in the service is very high at the moment."

He said the behaviour included ambulance staff being threatened with knives, verbal abuse, physical assault and on one occasion, when a crew answered a hoax call, where paramedics were set upon by a brick-throwing gang.