Emergency Workers Assaulted After Offering Help
A police constable and an ambulance paramedic were attacked in a Birmingham street after attempting to provide medical assistance to a man. The incident occurred on Stratford Road in Hall Green on Tuesday, November 18, at approximately 7pm.
Details of the Hall Green Incident
The officer, from the Safer Travel team, initially discovered a man who appeared to require medical attention. Acting as a good Samaritan, the constable promptly called for an ambulance to ensure the man received proper care. However, the situation escalated dramatically when the man, who was the intended recipient of this help, allegedly turned violent.
He is said to have assaulted both the attending police officer and the paramedic who arrived on the scene. Fortunately, neither of the emergency workers sustained serious injuries during the altercation.
Arrest and Official Condemnation
West Midlands Police confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old man from Birmingham on suspicion of assaulting the two emergency service personnel. The suspect was taken into custody for questioning.
A spokesperson for the Safer Travel team provided a statement, saying: “Our PC found the man needed medical treatment and called for an ambulance. Both the officer and a paramedic were then assaulted. Neither thankfully were hurt.”
Dan Knight, West Midlands Ambulance Service’s Head of Security and Safety, strongly condemned the attack. He reiterated the service's zero-tolerance policy towards abuse of staff.
“It is clear that the public are outraged every time something like this happens and we will always push hard for a conviction,” Knight stated. “Our crews have the right to work without fear of violence or intimidation whilst trying to help patients.”
He also highlighted the measures taken to protect staff, noting that ambulances are equipped with CCTV and crews can wear body-worn cameras, adding that it was “sad that we have had to go to such lengths to protect staff.”
