JERSEY’S Ambulance Service has praised the courts for sending “a clear and vital message” that abuse of emergency service workers will not be tolerated – after a man was jailed this week for attacking medical staff.
Andrew Berry was sentenced to four months in prison by the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to two counts of common assault.
The incident, which took place on 1 May, involved Berry punching a nurse and pushing a doctor while receiving treatment at the General Hospital after he collapsed due to heavy drinking.
The case comes amid growing concern over the safety of emergency workers, following a sharp rise in assaults on paramedics since 2020.
In response, the Jersey Ambulance Service last year launched its ‘Work Without Fear’ campaign to highlight and tackle abuse faced by frontline staff.
In a statement shared on social media after the sentencing, the Ambulance Service said: “We welcome this recent court judgement highlighted by the Jersey Evening Post, which sends a clear and vital message: violence against emergency service workers will not be tolerated.”
The statement continued: “We launched our #WorkWithoutFear campaign last year because when our crews respond to people in their most vulnerable moments – they deserve respect, not abuse. No one should fear for their safety while trying to save lives.
“We stand firmly behind Jersey’s Courts in taking strong action against these unacceptable acts.”
