'Behind every uniform is a human being who deserves respect, support and safety'

WITH ATTACKS AGAINST NHS STAFF, TEACHERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND PRISON GUARDS ON THE RISE, A 'REALLY IMPORTANT' CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN LAUNCHED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM

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A NEW 'really important' campaign has been launched to tackle violence against frontline workers across the county.

The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Violence Reduction Alliance (VRA) is running the campaign to raise awareness of the person behind the role and the importance of keeping them safe.

A recent national analysis conducted by Leading Britain's Conversations shows:

Around 43,000 police officers were punched, kicked and attacked with weapons in 2023/24;

At least 625 public sector workers were assaulted per day in 2024, this equates to around one every two minutes;

NHS England's staff survey showed that over 217,000 incidents of physical abuse against staff members took place in 2024 alone;

Department for Education data shows that secondary school pupils attacked teachers and support staff over 134,000 times in the last three full academic years;

Prison officers were assaulted over 10,500 times in 2024. The new campaign is being delivered in partnership with Staffordshire Police, the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board, and West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Staffordshire Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Commissioner, and chairman of the VRA, Ben Adams, below, said: "Frontline workers are often subject to physical violence and abuse, when their primary aim is to help others.