BARNSLEY MP Stephanie Peacock is backing tougher sentences for those who assault emergency service workers.
The Assaults on Emergency Services Bill would introduce new offences and harsher sentences to protect all emergency service workers, including police officers, nurses, paramedics and firefighters, and seeks better legal protection for those who are attacked on duty.
Across the UK last year, there were 24,000 assaults on police officers, and the year before there were more than 70,000 reported assaults against NHS staff.
Ms Peacock, MP for Barnsley East, was in the House of Commons to support the bill and has pledged to back it again in its final legislative stage.
She said: “Far too often our incredible emergency service workers are subject to appalling treatment and assaults in their line of duty.
“Having recently met police in Barnsley, I’m aware of the challenges both they and workers across the emergency services face.
“This is completely unacceptable, and these tougher sentences should deter the minority of people who think it’s okay to attack our nurses, police officers and fire fighters and others as they do their vital jobs.
“Our emergency services do a phenomenal job looking after us all, but it’s time we did our bit to look after them.”
