Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Emergency Services: Assaults

Monday 28 September 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister stated that anyone assaulting emergency workers should face swift and severe punishment through the criminal justice system.
  • Minister announced the intention to double the maximum sentence for assaulting emergency workers.
  • Minister agreed to consider making drink or drug abuse an aggravating factor in sentencing for assaulting emergency workers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Huw Merriman Con
Policing & Resources Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

There has been an increase in assaults on emergency workers, particularly those involving drink and drugs. Sussex MPs met with the south-east coast ambulance service team to discuss this issue.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to protect emergency service workers from assault?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

I have said before in this Chamber and will say it again: anybody who lays a malicious finger on a police officer, or indeed any emergency worker, should face swift and severe retribution through the criminal justice system. We recently announced our intention to double the maximum sentence for assaults on emergency workers.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Huw Merriman Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

Sussex MPs met with the south-east coast ambulance service team and were concerned about an increase in assaults on emergency workers, particularly those involving drink or drugs.

Question

Can the Minister, through his Department and across Government, work to ensure that when it comes to policing, prosecution and sentencing of these individuals, drink or drug abuse is an aggravating factor, not a mitigating factor, and that we stand by our ambulance personnel and ensure that those who abuse them go behind bars?

Answer from Kit Malthouse

There is absolutely no excuse for assaulting any kind of emergency worker. I will take into account the point about aggravating factors when we consider doubling the sentence in legislation. The Sentencing Council is about to start a review of the sentencing of assault, and I urge him and others to make a submission to that forum as to aggravating factors.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to treating drink or drug abuse as an aggravating factor in legislation at this moment but will consider it during the review process.

How: Under Review, Taking Into Account

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)