Assaults on public service staff increase to 25,000

UNISON Scotland has released new figures showing that assaults on health and local government staff over the last year have increased by over 2,000.

In an update to the most comprehensive survey of violence against public service workers in Scotland, the union has obtained figures from Scotland's Local Authorities and Health Boards through Freedom of Information that show that the level of violent attacks increased over the last year to 25,157 compared with last year's total of 23,272.

UNISON also attacked the inconsistency in the reporting of figures and monitoring incidents which, if anything, had got worse in local government.

Dave Watson, UNISON's Scottish Organiser Policy said "These figures show that - particularly in local government - employers are still not taking the threat of violence to their staff seriously.

"All the positive advertising campaigns in the world cannot have the impact they should unless employers encourage reporting, collect and monitor information on violent incidents.

"In one case a local authority who could not provide figures from the Education Department last year, could only provide figures from the Education Department this year!

"If no-one is adding up the numbers, authorities can have no idea how many assaults are taking place in any area."

In addition, UNISON is calling for the Emergency Workers Act to be extended to cover other public service workers at risk, including social workers, housing staff, traffic wardens, community safety officers, community health and mental health workers.

Dave said, "We will be making further representations to parliament, and if necessary, a private members bill will be introduced to amend the 2006 Act, or introduce a further bill."

The union is clear that the Government also needs to remind councils and health boards that they should adopt effective monitoring and share information on violent clients between departments, and between authorities and boards.

Dave added "UNISON is saying this level of violence is unacceptable. "Employers must introduce preventative measures; carry out risk assessments for all tasks; encourage reporting; and collate the relevant statistics".

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