999 crew assaults rocket

Assaults on ambulance crews across the North-West have risen sharply, according to latest figures.

NHS Protect has issued a report which reveals an alarming number of attacks in the 12 months to March, 2011.

Physical assaults against North-West Ambulance Service crew members had spiralled by 53 per cent from the previous year, to 268.

Sanctions were brought against those who committed an assault, on 68 occasions.

Derek Cartwright, director of emergency service, said: “We are here to serve the people of the North-West.

“It is intolerable that our crews have to face this sort of abuse while doing their job, and we will not accept any violence or aggression towards them, our equipment or vehicles.

“People are being imprisoned and receiving serious convictions for such behaviour towards our crews and we will continue to work hard to fully support our staff and encourage them to report incidents.”

Violence and aggression can result in crews being taken off duty and vehicles off the road, leaving them unable to respond to life-threatening emergencies.