Adrian McAuley: "Staff are having to wpork under a threat"

In January, five members of staff were physically assaulted in a nine-day period.

He added that in many cases it was not the ambulance service who called the police when they were attending disturbances at which people were injured.

Many 999 emergency calls go automatically to both the ambulance service and police, he said.

Mr McAuley said: "In certain situations in the city centre, calling the police may cause more problems than it solves for us.

"We wouldn't call the RUC unless it was absolutely the last thing.

"We would only call them in if our staff were in danger, or the vehicle was going to be destroyed."

'Impartiality'

Mr McAuley said he did not think the threats came specifically from either the nationalist or unionist community.

"Our staff are bringing a high level of pre-hospital care to the public and we don't ask anybody their colour, creed or religion and we have enjoyed impartiality over 30 years of the Troubles here," he said.

"I wouldn't necessarily think the threat came from one side or the other."

He added: "It is very difficult to know what is going on.

One member of staff said to me, that during 25 years of the Troubles working in the service, he never felt in danger, but now when he is in his uniform he fears for his life."