Harborough paramedics to get body-worn cameras after countrywide rise in violence against ambulance crews

Violence against ambulance crews across Harborough is “absolutely unacceptable” as they are all to be given body-worn cameras, an ambulance chief has warned.

The move is being made in a bid to make crews all over the country safer after a dramatic spike in assaults on frontline staff.

Crews reported 1,048 incidents in the East Midlands last year – a rise of over 300 compared with three years ago.

The cameras are being provided by the NHS to all 10 ambulance trusts nationwide.

And footage will be handed over to police to help officers prosecute offenders in court.

Richard Henderson, the chief executive at East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “Violence and aggression towards ambulance staff has always been, and will always be, absolutely unacceptable.

“Our colleagues come to work to help people in their hour of need, not to be abused or assaulted.”

He added: “We are pleased to see the funding of body-worn cameras by NHS England and look forward to rolling them out to frontline colleagues across our region.

“We hope these cameras will help to protect our colleagues when responding to patients by acting as a deterrent and de-escalating situations.

“But in the disappointing event that a staff member experiences violence or aggression, we will have footage of the incident to assist in securing a successful prosecution of the offender.”