London Ambulance Crews Face Rising Violence as New Officers Crack Down
Violence Against Ambulance Staff Hits Alarming Levels
London ambulance crews are under attack like never before. In August alone, emergency workers were physically assaulted 59 times. Since lockdown eased, attacks are surging, averaging two per day. Since April, there have been 260 violent incidents — from punches and kicks to head-butts, bites, and even attacks with weapons.
New Violence Reduction Officers Step In
To combat this growing menace, the London Ambulance Service (LAS) has deployed Violence Reduction Officers working alongside the Metropolitan Police. One of them, Louise Murray, doubles as an emergency medical technician at Bromley Ambulance Station.
“Aggression against our staff can leave them in fear; it can lead to PTSD and cause all sorts of mental health problems,” said Louise. “I’ve been assaulted myself, so I know the impact. That’s why I’m passionate about supporting our teams and pushing for prosecutions.”
Staff Attacks: A Hidden Crisis
Last year saw 625 physical assaults and 713 verbal or threatening incidents reported against ambulance crews. Experts warn that the real figure could be even higher, as many attacks go unreported despite ongoing campaigns urging staff to speak up.
Bosses Demand Justice for Brave Crews
LAS Chief Executive Garrett Emmerson slammed the violence, saying:
“Protecting our people and ensuring they are safe while working is our highest priority. It is absolutely disgusting for our crews to be attacked while caring for patients – it should never be seen as ‘part of the job.’ We will push for every attacker to be prosecuted.”
London’s ambulance heroes risk their lives every day – now, they finally have extra muscle on their side to fight back against the violence that has plagued the frontline for far too long.
