Emergency Workers Face Record Assaults in Greater Manchester

0:00On March 30th, over 1,000 emergency workers in Greater Manchester have faced assault since the 2018 law change aimed at protecting them better. That law made attacking non-police emergency staff a specific crime with up to two years in prison. Manchester Burrow ranks among the top spots nationally for these attacks, with 336 incidents there alone since data tracking. Started in 2020. In wide, England and Wales saw a record 4,377 assaults on emergency workers in the year, ending September 2, 2025, up from before. Greater Manchester Police logged 299 last year, 21 more than the year prior. Meanwhile, on March 27th, Mayor Andy Burnham and health leaders kicked off the no space for racism campaign to tackle rising discrimination. In the region's health and care system, these attacks hit ambulance crews, firefighters and others hard, from punches and spits to threats with knives, forcing some out of their

1:03jobs due to trauma. Pharmacy workers report slash cars, smash shells from frustrated patients amid medicine shortages and long waits. Frontline staff say one incident is too many, averaging nearly 3 assaults per hour on UK ambulance workers last year. assault bosses notice assaults happen everywhere, from clinics to home visits, even among colleagues, and reporting often gets little response. Northwest ambulance service saw a 16% drop in violent incidents this year due better police ties, but leaders like Greater Manchester. Fire and rescue stress is zero tolerance during high-risk times, like bonfire night. As calls grow for mandatory minimum sentences and restorative justice to cut reoffending, criminal efforts tie in police support for the new campaign's reporting site, pushing for real action to shield those saving lives every day.