Emergency workers in call for stab vests
Jul 7 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal
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The Department of Health yesterday
Some paramedics already wear body armour and other staff can have the equipment if security experts in each area give the go-ahead, a health spokesman said.
One union chief representing North East ambulance workers confirmed last night members had approached him regarding the issue, and Peter Warren, the managing director of the Oxfordshire-based Body Armour Company, which supplies the vests mainly to the NHS, also said he had received inquiries from the region.
Nationally, the firm is supplying 10,000 stab vests to local government workers, mainly NHS staff and Mr Warren said he had also had inquiries from schools.
Joel Byers, Unison branch secretary for North East ambulance service said: “I have had phone calls from local staff asking about stab-proof vests and I think it may be the time for a national poll to see whether the majority of ambulance staff want them or not.”
“I know some people want them, and some people don’t, but if we provide stab vests they would have to be worn all the time whilst on duty, regardless of the job. It can’t be left to individual choice.
“What I find really sad is that the ambulance service is even having to discuss the issue – ambulance staff are being assaulted for doing their job and it’s a very sad sign of the times.”
A Department of Health spokesman said: “The Government takes the safety of NHS staff extremely seriously.
“Workers can have stab vests if it is decided they are necessary by their local NHS trust.”
Health Secretary Alan Johnson earmarked £97m for extra security for NHS workers earlier this year and the comments come amid rising concern over the number of knife attacks in the UK in general, and following a number of stabbings in the region over the weekend.
The North East Strategic Health Authority said last night that at present there is no region-wide policy and the matter is left to individual NHS trusts.
Decisions over whether to give council workers stab vests will also be made by individual authorities, a Local Government Association spokesman said.
He added: “Council workers come into contact with every household across the country in some capacity. Obviously the risk that staff face varies enormously, and their level of protection needs to be both sensible and proportionate. Councils will not hesitate to use the appropriate measures to deal with any risk of attack.”
Labour MP for Tynemouth Alan Campbell said stab vests should be made available to frontline emergency workers.
He said: “These are drastic measures, but if public sector workers who find themselves in potentially dangerous situations ask for added protection, then of course we should make it available to them.
“But I also think if someone has been attacked in the line of duty it should
be taken into account during sentencing. Courts have to reflect public feeling on this and the public wants people who carry knives to be locked up.”
