Assaults on emergency workers rise

I am disgusted to see that assaults on emergency service workers have risen over the last year.

These are people who have dedicated themselves to keeping us safe and well, and they deserve to carry out their duty without being threatened, assaulted and abused.

Last year there were 2,838 reported assaults against police officers, firefighters, ambulance staff, NHS workers and prison staff. I am certain that many more assaults and other incidents go unreported.

It is now almost a year since magistrates were given greater powers to deal with people who assault emergency workers, including the power to impose longer prison sentences. I hope that we will now see a downward trend in these appalling assaults going forward.

Our emergency workers deserve to carry out their duty without being threatened, assaulted and abused.