66k frontline workers punched, kicked, spat on… and even murdered
Tuesday, 16 September, 2014
- Over 400 attacks every week on doctors, nurses, ambulance crew and receptionists
- Wearable GPS ‘panic button’ technology would protect essential workers and slash the multi-million pound workplace violence bill
65,970 workers in the UK have been attacked whilst on duty in the last three years, working out at over 400 incidents every week.¹
A new report “Risky Business: Protecting frontline workers from attack whilst on duty” has collected FOI data from hospital trusts, emergency services, the transport sector and Government departments.
Figures for the last three years² show:
- Doctors and nurses: 12,386 physical assaults have been reported on staff working in acute services such as hospital emergency departments, maternity wards and medical imaging units.³ These incidents did not involve medical factors such as mental ill health or learning disabilities.⁴
- Ambulance crews: 11,336 first responders and paramedics have been assaulted – the most affected being London, North West and South Western Ambulance Services.⁵
- Police officers: 22,056 police officers and 1,077 PCSOs have been attacked whilst on duty in England and Wales.⁶
- UK Rail staff: 6,045 rail staff have been physically and verbally attacked. Staff in London have suffered the highest number of violent incidents, with 3,719. The most common offences include common assault, ABH and racially aggravated incidents.⁷
- Tube staff: 7,435 staff have suffered from threats, physical or verbal abuse. The most common reported incidents relate to revenue disputes, drunkenness, racial aggravation and service disruptions.⁸
- Bus drivers: One major national bus company has reported 1,176 assaults.⁹ In London, five bus drivers are attacked every day, amounting to 5,155 incidents. Three in ten (1,546) are physical attacks. 10
- Taxi drivers: Nationally, 65 private hire drivers have been murdered in the last 20 years.11 Cabbies have reportedly been attacked with guns, knives, baseball bats, a hammer and even a wheelie bin. Drivers have even been set on fire and run over by their own vehicles.12In London, 480 London Taxi and mini cab drivers have been victims of violence.13
Today’s report urges the transport sector and emergency services to begin trials of affordable wearable technology, initially in London, to help protect frontline workers, especially if they are mobile or work alone.
A one-year pilot of 100 wearable real-time GPS panic button devices should be trialled by appropriate staff such as bus and taxi drivers and those in overground and train stations. The kit, costing an estimated £33k, including all hardware and service plans,14 has the potential to reduce the annual £2.2m cost of workplace violence to TfL.15
Similarly, a one-year pilot of 100 body-worn cameras for frontline London ambulance crews and a further 100 on-vehicle CCTV cameras on ambulances, costing an estimated £106,000 would equate to less than just one year of the annual £125,700 sick bill caused by violence.16
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Author of the report, GLA Conservative crime spokesman Roger Evans said: “We depend on frontline workers whether it’s a medical emergency or getting us to work. These people need to be treated with respect. Shockingly, I have uncovered figures which show that violence against people like nurses, cabbies and receptionists is rife. They are being punched, kicked, scratched, threatened and spat on every day whilst doing their job. Affordable wearable technology such as wearable panic buttons and body worn cameras will help bolster the security and protection of these essential workers. They would act as visible deterrents for criminals, monitor the safety of staff and call for help in an emergency. Furthermore, video evidence from cameras would make it easier to report crimes, avoid disputes and shorten trials. These wearable GPS kits, body and vehicle cameras would bear down on the massive cost of workplace violence, and I expect eventually pay for itself.” |
“Risky Business” is the latest report for Roger Evan’s campaign to protect frontline workers from attack and injury while on duty. It can be accessed at: www.glaconservatives.co.uk/rb
