Attacks on Scots emergency workers soar despite harsher punishments

Official figures released today by the Scottish Government revealed

that 301 people were convicted under the Emergency Workers Act in 2008/09, according to the Government.

The figure has been rising steadily since the first year of its introduction in 2005/06 when there were just 54 charges.

The figures have emerged in a Government submission to proposals for a new Bill at Holyrood, being introduced by Labour MSP Hugh Henry, aimed at extending protection to all workers dealing with the public.

The submission from the Government stated: "If we wished to define success with only reference to the data, we would expect the number of offences under the 2005 Act to fall in number as the deterrent effect operates, rather than rise as has happened."

It would probably be easier if "no final conclusions" are drawn given difficulties in analysing the data, according to the Government submission.

But one of the key reasons for introducing the Act was to deter the number of attacks, on ambulance, police and fire staff.

The Government submission added: "There is no clear evidence that the 2005 Act has been a success in acting as a deterrent."

The legislation beefed up legal protection to ambulance workers, doctors, nurses and midwives working in a hospital or responding to an emergency. It was extended in 2008 to health staff working in the community.

The Protection of Workers Bill would create a new offence of assault against a worker whose employment involves dealing with members of the public to any extent, where the worker is physically present.

It aims to apply similar principles to those in the Emergency Workers Act and would carry a maximum jail term of 12 months and/or a fine of 10,000.

But the Government submission argues that there is no need as yet to amend the Act.

It read: "We do not see Hugh Henry's Bill as being necessary."

The underlying causes of many of the attacks on workers should instead be addressed, it added, including Scotland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol and drugs.

"Practical steps have a bigger role to play than re-writing the criminal law," it said.