A CAMPAIGN is to be launched “imminently” in a bid to combat the rising numbers of assaults on emergency workers, particularly States police officers.
With 46 assaults on the police recorded over the first eight months of this year – twice the total seen during the whole of 2019 and the highest number for at least six years – and a rising number of spitting incidents, a drive to educate Islanders to be more respectful of emergency staff is getting under way, a Scrutiny panel has heard.
Police chief Robin Smith told the Children’s, Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel that 15 of this year’s assaults involved spitting, including the need for one officer to undergo tests for a possible infection.
“I am concerned about the number of assaults; spitting in particular has an enormous impact and I believe we need to do more about there being an appropriate deterrent if someone is assaulted in the course of their duty,” he said.
Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat said that in addition to the police statistics, seven ambulance employees had been assaulted in the year to 14 June and five customs and immigration staff had been subjected to attacks during the first eight months of 2024.
“It’s something that really needs to be highlighted, but also the consequences of those actions need to be dealt with effectively,” she said.
Deputy Le Hegarat said that a media campaign addressing attacks on frontline staff had been prepared and that its launch was “imminent”.
“We want to raise public awareness of the increasing trend of violence and aggression and highlight the impact on emergency responders and on their ability to deliver timely and effective assistance to the community – the goal is to foster a culture of respect and support for those on the frontline who are saving lives,” she said.
Constable Mark Labey, a member of the panel, said he was particularly concerned about the rising number of assaults on police officers in Jersey at a time when the figures for the UK did not seem to show a significant change.
Mr Smith said that the police force had a new communications officer who would work with counterparts from the Justice and Home Affairs Department on the awareness campaign.
Contacted by the JEP, a spokesperson for the States police said that some of the 15 spitting incidents this year involved spitting in the officer’s face, and that in such cases there was a procedure involving hospital treatment and regular blood tests over the ensuing months. Spit-guards were available for use on those who had spat, although these were typically not deployed until after the first instance of spitting, the force said.
Assaults against police officers, per year
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2018 – 33
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2019 – 23
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2020 – 44
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2021 – 37
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2022 – 30
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2023 – 30
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2024 – 46 (Jan-Aug inc)