Violence Against UK Ambulance Staff Hits Record High: 433 Attacks Per Week
The number of violent and abusive incidents targeting ambulance workers across the UK has surged to record levels, with an average of 433 attacks being reported each week, new figures reveal.
Data from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) shows that in the year 2024–25, there were 22,536 incidents involving physical assaults, sexual abuse, and verbal threats against paramedics and call handlers — a 15% rise on the previous year.
Health leaders have branded the figures “truly shocking,” warning that many more cases are likely to go unreported. Female ambulance staff remain disproportionately affected.
Jason Killens, AACE chair and head of the Welsh Ambulance Service, called for urgent action: “This is a horrendous pattern of abuse towards those trying to save lives. We’re asking ministers to introduce new deterrents and for the courts to impose tougher sentences on offenders.”
Trade unions and NHS representatives say the violence reflects a wider breakdown in public trust and a growing “toxic environment” within the overstretched health service. Factors include surging 999 calls, growing demand, and an increasingly unwell and ageing population.
The UK government reiterated that assaults on emergency workers can carry a prison term of up to two years. Devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland also issued strong condemnations.
The rise in violence comes as the NHS continues to grapple with delays, staff burnout, and wider concerns about patient safety — including reports that over 1,000 patients a day in England may be harmed due to ambulance handover delays.
