 Body armour is common among police officers |
Ambulance crews in Nottingham are to be issued with personal safety equipment after a series of attacks. The East Midlands Ambulance Service is taking part in a pilot trial to reduce crime and improve security.
The scheme will involve fitting CCTV into ambulances and the possibility of issuing body armour.
If successful, the ideas will be extended to the rest of the country.
Violent incidents
The ambulance service employs 800 staff, covering 38 ambulance stations in four counties.
The Home Office says crews have experienced problems from the public in responding to emergency calls.
These include theft, ambulances being damaged and staff coming under attack.
Nottingham has been chosen because of the high occurrence of violent incidents in the area.
Facing risks
The trial will involve crews in Nottinghamshire being issued with alarms for portable equipment and personal protective equipment.
The project will run from now until March 2005, focusing attention on the better tracking of lone workers, cameras in ambulances and looking at the practical application of body armour.
Paul Phillips, EMAS Chief Executive, said: "I'm delighted that EMAS will be the Ambulance Service lead for this national project.
"Acts of aggression, violence and crime are becoming all too frequent in society and front-line crews now face many risks. I hope this initiative brings about a reduction."
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
