New data from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) has revealed a grim forecast for UK ambulance services, with over 20,000 incidents of violence, aggression, and abuse against ambulance staff expected in the 2024-25 financial year. This marks the highest rate ever recorded in the sector, equating to at least 55 ambulance workers being abused or attacked every single day.
Reported incidents include kicking, punching, slapping, head-butting, spitting, verbal abuse, and sexual assault, ranging from common assault to serious attacks involving weapons. However, many assaults remain unreported, meaning the true figure is likely even higher.
These concerning statistics come following the busy festive period, with AACE data indicating over 5,000 incidents are expected across December 2024, January, and February 2025 alone. December is a particularly challenging month due to the prevalence of alcohol during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Jason Killens, AACE Chair and Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, condemned the rising abuse:
“It is with huge regret that we see the level of violence, aggression and abuse across all UK ambulance services increasing and that frontline clinical employees as well as call handlers are affected. This unacceptable behaviour has a major long-term impact on the health and wellbeing of ambulance people who are simply trying to do their jobs and help save lives. This is why we are making a plea to the public to ensure that our staff are treated with the respect they deserve, especially during the busy festive period. We are also asking the judiciary to use their full powers under the Assaults on Emergency Workers Offences Act 2018 legislation to ensure appropriate sentences are handed out consistently to those found guilty of committing these crimes against our workforce.”
Killens urged the public to treat ambulance staff with the respect they deserve and called on the judiciary to enforce the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 to hand down consistent, appropriate sentences to offenders.
Disturbing Trends in Abuse
AACE data highlights alarming increases in violence against ambulance workers over recent years:
• In 2021/22, 15,430 incidents were reported.
• This rose to 15,857 in 2022/23 and then surged by 23.8% to 19,633 in 2023/24.
• By the end of September 2024, midway through the current financial year, 11,817 incidents had already been recorded—61% of the previous year’s total—putting the sector on track to surpass 20,000 for the first time.
Alcohol remains the most significant factor in these assaults, followed by drug use and mental health crises. Disturbingly, there has also been an increase in assaults where race and sexuality are cited as aggravating factors.
Anna Parry, Managing Director of AACE, emphasized the personal toll on ambulance employees:
“These new figures highlight the upsetting fact that ambulance employees face the very real possibility of being subject to violence or abuse each time they start a shift. This can have a significant and lasting impact on wellbeing and sometimes even lead to people leaving the ambulance service. Our ongoing #WorkWithoutFear campaign is shining a light on this alarming issue and raising awareness of the negative impact of this behaviour on our people, while a significant amount of work is ongoing within ambulance services to help better protect our workforce.”
Steps to Protect Ambulance Staff
In response to the escalation in violence, UK ambulance services are implementing various initiatives alongside the #WorkWithoutFear campaign to reduce the frequency of assaults and support those affected. These measures include:
• Dedicated violence prevention teams established within each NHS ambulance service.
• Body worn video cameras being piloted and evaluated in all NHS ambulance services.
• The establishment of a centrally coordinated violence dataset that enables each ambulance service to report the type and frequency of assaults in a more consistent way, giving a greater foundation and better understanding of the prevalence and reasons behind violence and aggression directed at ambulance people.
• A successful ‘restrictive interventions’ training programme giving ambulance people safer ways to protect themselves and patients in potentially volatile situations.
• Counselling and other forms of talking therapy and support for employees who have been subjected to violence and aggression; the sector continues to work hard to find new and innovative ways to provide better post-incident support for its people.
The public can show their support for ambulance staff by using and sharing #WorkWithoutFear on social media and learning more at www.aace.org.uk/vaa.
Richard Webber Highlights the Issue on BBC Breakfast
Richard Webber from the College of Paramedics appeared on BBC Breakfast on Sunday, 5th January 2025, to discuss these alarming figures and highlight the impact of violence on ambulance staff. During the interview, Webber urged the public to reflect on the harm such behaviour causes to those dedicated to saving lives and emphasized the importance of respecting emergency service workers – as it is “simply unacceptable”.