Attacks on emergency workers have risen

It would enable courts to impose tougher sentences, offer further staff training and make greater use of CCTV.

The Emergency Workers Bill sets out to cover ambulance personnel, doctors, nurses, midwives and lifeboat crew.

Fines for assault would rise from �1,000 to �5,000 and could be accompanied by up to nine months in prison.

Firefighters and nurses are reporting an upsurge of violence against them during the course of their duties.

Stones and bottles are regularly thrown at fire crews and nurses in emergency departments are subjected to assault by drunken patients.

Our message is clear - attacks on emergency workers will not be tolerated Andy Kerr Public Services Minister

Public Services Minister Andy Kerr said this was unacceptable and he hoped the bill would offer greater safeguards.

Mr Kerr said: "Attacks on emergency workers are completely unacceptable. People working in emergency situations need to be able to go about their work without fear.

"The dedication of emergency workers saves countless lives in Scotland every year. Attacks on staff are putting those lives at risk.

"That is why the executive has brought forward legislation to protect emergency workers while they do their jobs. Our message is clear - attacks on emergency workers will not be tolerated."

Hoax calls

He added that the executive planned to work closely with the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) to bring forward a package of measures to underline "that attacks on public service and other workers are totally unacceptable".

The new legislation, which would also apply to hoax calls, would make it an offence to assault or obstruct emergency workers.

It would also give paramedics and coastguard staff, as well as anyone assisting them, the same legal protection as police officers.

Scottish Conservative justice spokeswoman Margaret Mitchell welcomed the bill but said anyone given the maximum sentence would serve fewer than five months due to automatic early release.

Hopefully doctors should no longer feel that this sort of thing is part of the job Gail Grant BMA Scotland

"It's simply unacceptable that emergency workers in our public services are facing physical attack while doing their jobs.

"Whilst this is a disgrace, it is a sad indictment of growing lawlessness in Scotland."

The British Medical Association said legislation must be accompanied by staff training and a new public awareness drive.

BMA Scotland's Gail Grant said: "It is important to encourage people to report incidents of violence so they can be dealt with and if the bill is passed and properly enforced, hopefully doctors should no longer feel that this sort of thing is part of the job."

STUC health and safety officer Ian Tasker said it welcomed the executive's commitment to stiffer penalties for those convicted of violence.

Fire Brigades' Union regional chair Roddy Robertson said education and greater public awareness would help to reduce the number of attacks.