The Emergency Workers Act was introduced in 2005

Some 255 people were convicted under the Emergency Workers (Scotland) Act in 2005/06 - rising to 461 in 2006/07.

Glasgow Sheriff Court had 199 cases over two years with 88 in Edinburgh, 46 in Kilmarnock and 43 in Selkirk.

Central Scotland MSP Margaret Mitchell said the figures were "horrific". A Scottish Executive spokesman said it was committed to protecting workers.

The Crown Office figures were obtained by Conservative MSP Ms Mitchell.

Attacks on these workers are totally unacceptable and we will not tolerate anything that prevents emergency workers from carrying out their vital jobs Scottish Executive spokesman

"Evidence suggests the problem is spiralling out of control," she said.

The Tories had warned the new law was a "totally unnecessary piece of legislation", according to Ms Mitchell.

She said existing law already had the flexibility to ensure that emergency workers were treated with the utmost respect.

Ms Mitchell has now called for health workers to be fitted with personal alarms.

She also said the recording of information should be improved to ensure it identified the problem areas and high-risk situations, allowing risks to be minimised.

Extension considered

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said it was committed to ensuring that all dedicated frontline staff who were dealing with emergencies could carry out their jobs free from "assault, obstruction or hindrance".

"Attacks on these workers are totally unacceptable and we will not tolerate anything that prevents emergency workers from carrying out their vital jobs," he said.

"That is why we supported the Emergency Workers Act, which was introduced in May 2005.