AMBULANCE staff faced more instances of violent, aggressive and intimidating behaviour last year than in the previous four years combined, according to figures given to the JEP.
Chief ambulance officer Peter Gavey said efforts to promote the #WorkWithoutFear campaign, launched in November, continue “as an ongoing reminder of our shared responsibility to ensure the safety of those who care for us”.
The campaign seeks to raise public awareness about an increase in instances of violence, aggression and intimidation towards emergency responders.
This includes sharing accounts of their experiences – such as that of paramedic Eric Rolland, who was punched in the face by a patient who had been drinking and who became aggressive.
Mr Rolland required two separate operations, which meant weeks off work while he recovered.
At the time of the campaign’s launch, the Ambulance Service had logged 26 incidents of violence, aggression and intimidation during the year – but a further ten incidents before the end of December brought the total for 2024 to 36.
In comparison, there were 14 reported incidents in 2023 and just seven in 2022, five in 2021 and four in 2020.
Mr Gavey said: “Emergency workers deserve to feel safe while performing their vital duties. We continue to promote the #WorkWithoutFear campaign, which was launched to create safer working conditions for those who dedicate their lives to serving our island community.”
He said that the campaign’s social media videos had so far been viewed more than 150,000 times, helping to highlight “the critical need for mutual respect and the consequences of inappropriate behaviour towards frontline workers”.
Mr Gavey continued: “The #WorkWithoutFear message is visible in the community, with campaign artwork prominently displayed on our vehicle fleet, as an ongoing reminder of our shared responsibility to ensure the safety of those who care for us.
“The service reiterates its unwavering support for employees affected by such behaviour, standing by them during the legal process to prosecute offenders.”
He added that this has already seen “tangible outcomes”, with several recent cases resulting in successful prosecutions.
“These cases, which have made headlines, send a clear message: aggressive and intimidating behaviour towards emergency service workers won’t be tolerated.”
The update comes shortly after it emerged that assaults on police officers have risen by more than 83% in the past three years.
The force has reiterated that such behaviour will “not be tolerated”, after a man who spat in an officer’s mouth was jailed for one year by the Magistrate’s Court this week.
