The question is: what do we do about it?

The easiest part of that question to answer is how we take care of such workers, especially ambulance and fire service staff who should not be expected to have to protect themselves.

In an ideal world, police would always be able to offer that protection. But this is impractical, as police numbers are already stretched without patrol cars riding shotgun every time an ambulance or a fire tender is called out to a remotely dodgy area.

It is shocking that we even have to consider such an option – though clearly there is a real need to provide such cover.

About once a month a Lothians paramedic is attacked as they respond to emergency calls. Incidents have included staff being kicked and bitten, and “spit kits” are being issued so DNA can be used to pursue attackers.

via Edinburgh Evening News .

He had to retire as an ambulance technician and, although he spent some time operating the ambulance switchboard, he desperately missed his job and working with the public.

Now he hopes to get a second chance at a frontline caring career as he retrains as a nurse – something he has always dreamed of and paid for by compensation he received after his attack.

Read full article: BBC NEWS

Teen yob Jordan Hampson punched a policeman – breaking his nose – before turning his rage on a hospital security guard.

James Gould, 63, attacked an ambulance technician who was trying to help him – battering him with his walking stick. Both attackers have now been locked up.

Hampson struck after a booze fuelled night in Blackpool.

Read full article: Blackpool Today.

They barricaded themselves in the living room and, in a scene reminiscent of the movie The Shining, Leonard Hilton plunged the knife into the door, screaming: “Here’s Johnny! Come out and play. I am going to stab you.”

Read full article: mirror.co.uk.

Good grief!

Read full article and see photos: The Sun

Karl Gibbins, 35, went on a “journey of self-destruction” after being kicked out of his girlfriend’s home, and was found in the road face down on the floor with a smashed bottle of vodka beside him, Norwich magistrates heard.

Gibbins, from Bowthorpe Road, Norwich, was warned by magistrates that he could be jailed, and the case was adjourned for reports.

He admitted possessing a knife in a public place, two counts of threatening behaviour, and one of criminal damage, smashing a glass plane at his girlfriend’s home, all on March 26.

Prosecuting, Mark Davis said: “The first offence was the damage to the window. After that the defendant took a cocktail of drink and drugs including amphetamines and vodka.

“Two East of England Ambulance Service paramedics were called to Wakefield Road in Norwich at about 4.35pm.

“A man (Gibbins) was lying in the road beside a smashed bottle of vodka. He had sustained some injuries to his face.

“He was extremely abusive to the paramedics and spat in their direction. He swore at them and said he was going to kill them. Police were called by the ambulance staff and he was arrested at that stage for being drunk and disorderly.

Read full article: Evening News 24