Video footage reveals 'unacceptable' assaults on Nottinghamshire emergency service staff

Nottinghamshire's emergency services are uniting together to put an end to assaults against its staff as released CCTV footage reveals "unacceptable" abuse.

The campaign aims to highlight incidents where police and ambulance crew have been assaulted whilst performing their roles across Nottinghamshire, with footage uncovering attacks like spitting, biting, verbal abuse and sometimes serious assaults.

Both Notts police and East Midlands ambulance services have released footage today showing an assault on an ambulance crew in Talbot Street, Nottingham on January 27, 2019. The video which recorded the incident at 4am shows a patient becoming aggressive towards the crew and began throwing punches, kicking and pulling out one crew member's hair. Police officers were sent to the scene following a call by staff asking for assistance.

The patient, Matthew Fealey, 34, from Methyr Tydfil in Wales was arrested by police officers, charged with assault and given a 17-week prison sentence, suspended for 12-months at Nottingham Magistrates Court on March 29, 2019.

Meanwhile, a 31-year-old man has been fined by Nottingham magistrates and ordered to pay compensation to a police officer he was found guilty of assaulting. Scott Hallam, of Fenton Close, Newark, denied the assault but was found guilty after his trial.

The charge was brought under the Assaults on Emergency Workers Act 2018 and the offender was fined £250 and ordered to pay the officer £50 compensation. Costs of £340 were awarded against Hallam and a second charge of resisting a police officer in the execution of her duty was dismissed and a verdict of not guilty entered.

Chris Sullivan, chief inspector at Notts Police said any assault on his colleagues in all emergency services is "unacceptable" and should be taken "incredibly seriously". He said: "We, as the police, are there to support our colleagues and are working together closer than ever to ensure that this figure decreases.

"As you can see from the video footage from the ambulance, this is what staff have to go through and it's simply not right. The crew on that day, handled themselves impeccably and were incredibly brave throughout the whole ordeal," he added.

And this assault was not just an isolated incident, it comes after the number of physical assaults on ambulance staff was at 30 from May 2018 and April 2019, whilst police and police constable support officers suffered 124 reported assaults during this time.

Of this figure, 16 people have been sent to court or given cautions and words of advice dependent on the extent of the incident and wishes of the emergency staff involved. A number of investigations are also ongoing at this time.

Adding to the disappointment of abuse against emergency service staff, Notts police and crime commissioner, Paddy Tipping, said officers and paramedics often put their own safety aside to ensure the safety of others in the public.

"It is outrageous that all too often they are on the receiving end of physical and verbal abuse. This should never be considered just part of the job. We need to send a clear message to those who assault officers and staff that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated and action will be taken," he said.

Both organisations are encouraging people to get behind the initiative by showing their support on social media.