Violent assaults on ambulance staff in Northern Ireland should lead to tough prison sentences, senior paramedics have said. There have been 70 attacks on paramedics in the province in the past six months and incidents in Belfast and Londonderry are being reported on a weekly basis. The level of attacks and abuse directed at crews has rised by 128% in the last year while attacks on doctors, nurses and other NHS workers in the province have risen to more than 5,000. Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Project Officer Mickey Hughes said offenders should be jailed for their crimes. “We will demand jail every time,” he said. “If you assault a member of the Ambulance Service, we will do everything possible to ensure you receive the maximum penalty.” The consequences of this criminal behaviour could be someone dying – that’s how serious this is. Full Story
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