Body cameras given to ambulance crews in a bid to reduce attacks on staff

Attacks on ambulance staff have risen 30% in five years

- Sector News
03.08.21

Ambulance crews across the country are being provided with body cameras in an attempt to reduce the number of attacks on staff.

The decision follows the publication of data that revealed 3,569 ambulance staff were physically assaulted by the public last year, which is 30% up on five years ago.

The announcement follows the launch of the first-ever national Violence Prevention and Reduction Standard at the beginning of the year, with every NHS trust in the country expected to publish a plan to tackle violence towards staff.

NHS England: NHS roll out of body cams in boost to ambulance crews safety

Maybo perspective

Body-worn CCTV has been shown to be effective in preventing some attacks on staff in public-facing roles and improving prosecution rates of culprits.

Equipment needs to be combined with personal safety awareness, an understanding of the underlying reasons for a person's behaviour and a de-escalatory approach. These elements are fundamental to all the training Maybo delivers.

Where client organisations do provide body-worn cameras to staff, Maybo training helps to ensure staff can maximise the potential benefits of body-worn cameras in considering how they position themselves as well as how they interact.