Body armour for ambulance staff

Ambulance staff in London are to be issued with protective body armour and police back-up when going into known trouble-spots, amid soaring rates of violent attacks on paramedics.

Stab and bullet-proof vests are to be given to all 2,200 ambulance crew in the capital this year after trials in areas with high rates of violence.

More than 450 London Ambulance Service (LAS) staff were assaulted last year, ranging from being spat on to being punched, kicked and stabbed.

In the first three months of this year there have been 130 reported physical attacks. Bosses say the real figure could be far higher because many minor incidents go unreported.

Crews say they are in fear of their lives when responding to 999 calls in some boroughs. Wendy Foers, director of human resources at the LAS, said: "We have seen an increase in the physical violence and verbal abuse our crews are experiencing and we need to give our staff protection.

"The vests are something they have asked for. They will be phased in over the next two years."

The LAS is also compiling an "at-risk" register which logs streets and houses where crews have been attacked. Paramedics responding to calls at those addresses will be warned and the police could attend as back-up.

Last week the service launched a "No Excuses" advertising campaign featuring posters of a woman paramedic with a black eye to raise awareness of the issue. Last year paramedic Simon Spencer suffered multiple stab wounds to his face, stomach and arms after he was attacked by drug addict Steven Kelly.

Mr Spencer, 39, was tending to another man whom Kelly had stabbed after breaking into a home in Stoke Newington. Kelly was jailed for 12 months for the knifings.

Mr Spencer suffered serious injuries but recovered and has returned to his job.

Phil Thompson, regional LAS organiser for the public service union Unison, said: "There is probably no greater single issue for ambulance crews than that of violence.

"It is completely unacceptable. Crews are being spat on, verbally abused, punched, kicked and attacked when they are simply trying to do their job. People don't like the idea of body armour because they don't want to look as if they are armed police, but there are very real fears about being assaulted now."

Shaun Rock, paramedic team leader, said: "There are some areas of London where pretty much every time you get called, you know you are going to need police back-up. The norm is abuse when you respond to a call."