Body cameras given to Midlands ambulance crews as thousands attacked last year alone

Physical attacks have risen by over 60% in the last five years while verbal assaults have more than doubled.

Last year East Midlands Staff reported 1,048 incidents of assault of a physical, verbal, sexual or racial nature, whereas West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) recorded 1,162 physical attacks and a further 2,181 cases of verbal abuse.

In 2019 WMAS ran a pilot using 30 cameras and found that in over 36,000 hours of use, there were only three activations by staff, and only one of those related to violence.

Now health bosses hope the cameras can deter potential attackers and bring more people to justice.

The cameras will not be on all the time and will only be activated in the event of an incident. A light will show indicating that it is on.

Chief Executive of WMAS, Anthony Marsh, said: “The safety of my staff is of paramount importance to me.  If they are injured, they are not available to respond to patients.

“The cameras will allow staff to record incidents where they feel at risk with any recordings being able to be given in evidence should an actual assault occur. 

“Hopefully, they will never have to be used, but if they are, the evidence will hopefully increase the rate of successful prosecutions and subsequent sentencing.  All too often my staff feel let down by the judicial system and this important step will help to redress that situation.”