Stunell Calls for End of Assaults on Emergency Workers

9.51.40am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 6th Apr 2005

Hazel Gove MP, Andrew Stunell has called for new powers to prosecute those who assault emergency workers such as ambulance crews, doctors, nurses and fire officers.

In a Parliamentary Motion submitted to the House of Commons, Mr Stunell is calling on the Government to copy legislation passed in the Scottish Parliament which makes it an offence for anyone to impede or assault emergency workers in the line of their duty. A change in the law would mean that such an act would make it a summary offence subject to a fine or up to 9 months imprisonment.

Last year 116,000 medical staff were assaulted in the line of their duty and 500 fire crews were attacked on the way to, or during, the course of putting out fires.

Mr Stunell said:

"This is totally unacceptable and emergency workers like doctors and nurses needed greater protection. Only 2% of reported incidents lead to prosecution, with the CPS refusing to take incidents to court. By making it a summary offence which would be heard purely by a judge, it would make it easier for prosecutions to be brought.

"I hope that our new initiative will make live safer for people who work in these essential jobs."

END

Notes to Editors

1. Text of the Parliamentary Motion:

That this House notes that a summary offence for assault against a police officer was created in the Police Act 1996 and that the Scottish parliament has introduced The Emergency Workers (Scotland) Bill to create a specific offence of attacking an emergency worker; and further considering the rise in assaults on public sector workers, such as firefighters, paramedics and nurses, calls upon the Government to make an assault on emergency workers and medical staff undertaking their duty a summary offence.

2. For further information, please contact: Andrew Stunell MP, 0207 2195223 or 0161 4067070

3. More details can be found from:

Royal College of Nursing: press office 020 7647 3633

Fire Brigades Union: press office 07736 818100

Kate Tompkins RCN SW 01392 217397