More ambulances are requesting police assistance

Unions are backing paramedics in north east England after a steep rise in violent assaults against them.

It is estimated that a quarter of staff with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) have been assaulted.

Paul Liversedge, director of accident and emergency services at NEAS, said attacks on paramedics had increase by 30% in recent years.

He said it was heavily alcohol and drugs related with a massive concentration of assaults when the pubs close.

Police assistance

Ray McDermott, Unison branch secretary of the NEAS, called for a stiffer sentences for people found guilty of attacking ambulance staff.

He said: "We all know that there is particular time, like late at night or weekends... it is a possible volatile situation to go into.

"You have no idea what reaction you are going to get from the patient.

"Nine times out of 10 it is not actually the patient, it is the patient's friends who all think they are all qualified doctors."

Mr Liversedge told BBC Radio Newcastle: "If there is any potential for an incident we fully support the withdrawal of our staff until police assistance arrives."