Assaults on East of England Ambulance staff reach a 5-year-high

New data obtained by Legal Expert has revealed that between 2019 and 2024, a total of 6,073 East of England Ambulance staff and paramedics suffered physical and verbal abuse, with the figure now the highest it has been in five years.

In response to the figures, an East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “It is unacceptable that our staff can face aggression and violence while helping others.

“These dedicated professionals work tirelessly, often under immense pressure, to provide life-saving care and it is unacceptable for them to face hostility and threats. We are committed to taking a firm stand against any form of aggression toward our staff.”

A total of 1,639 incidents of physical assaults against East of England Ambulance staff have been recorded since 2019. There were also 2,081 verbal assaults and 2,353 more incidents that were logged as being ‘non-physical assaults.’

In the last year alone (2023/24), East of England staff suffered 1,396 physical and verbal assaults.

The East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “In the past year we launched a staff safety campaign aimed at equipping our teams with strategies to protect themselves against violence and aggression, including the use of body worn cameras. This initiative is just one part of our broader, long-term focus on ensuring the safety and well-being of our staff.”