Asked by: Gareth Johnson (Conservative - Dartford)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted of common assault or battery under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The number of individuals proceeded against and convicted of an assault against an emergency worker can be found at:
Filter by ‘Offence’ for:
`8.22 Assault against an emergency worker’.
This link also provides information on the average length of sentence (in months) given to those convicted of this offence.
It is not possible to obtain an estimate of the number of people who have received an increased sentence for an offence specified as aggravated under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. Detailed information may be held on individual court records but to be able to identify these cases we would have to access these individual court records which would be of disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Gareth Johnson (Conservative - Dartford)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the average length of sentences given to people convicted of assault or battery under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The number of individuals proceeded against and convicted of an assault against an emergency worker can be found at:
Filter by ‘Offence’ for:
`8.22 Assault against an emergency worker’.
This link also provides information on the average length of sentence (in months) given to those convicted of this offence.
It is not possible to obtain an estimate of the number of people who have received an increased sentence for an offence specified as aggravated under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. Detailed information may be held on individual court records but to be able to identify these cases we would have to access these individual court records which would be of disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Gareth Johnson (Conservative - Dartford)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have received an increased sentence for an offence specified as aggravated under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The number of individuals proceeded against and convicted of an assault against an emergency worker can be found at:
Filter by ‘Offence’ for:
`8.22 Assault against an emergency worker’.
This link also provides information on the average length of sentence (in months) given to those convicted of this offence.
It is not possible to obtain an estimate of the number of people who have received an increased sentence for an offence specified as aggravated under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. Detailed information may be held on individual court records but to be able to identify these cases we would have to access these individual court records which would be of disproportionate cost.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people who assaulted emergency services staff were given custodial sentences in 2018.
Answered by Rory Stewart
Criminal Justice Statistics including custodial sentences for 2018 will be published in May 2019.
Asked by: Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions there have been in (a) Greater Manchester and (b) the UK under the Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The number of defendants proceeded against in Greater Manchester and in England and Wales under the Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006, from 2008 to 2017, can be viewed in the attached table.
Court proceedings data for 2018 is planned for publication in May 2019.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review the maximum available sentences in cases which staff in the emergency services are assaulted which transporting patients to hospital.
Answered by Dominic Raab
The hon. Member for Rhondda’s (Mr Chris Bryant) Private Members’ Bill, Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences), creates a new offence of assault against an emergency worker with a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment. This is higher than the maximum penalty for the offence of common assault which is 6 months. The definition of emergency workers includes paramedics and those providing ambulance services.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps are being taken to ensure appropriate sentencing for people convicted of attacks and assaults on police and all front line emergency officers.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
Offenders who assault police and other front line emergency officers rightly face more severe sentences because the victim is providing a service to the public. In all such crimes the fact that the victim is providing a service to the public is treated as an aggravating factor meaning that sentences for assaulting front line emergency officers will be more severe.
In addition, there are specific offences relating to attacking police officers and prison officers acting as constables. The offence of assault on a police constable - where little or no injury is caused – is the equivalent of common assault and has a maximum penalty of 6 months’ imprisonment. Sentencing guidelines, which are issued by the independent Sentencing Council, recognise that assault on a constable is more serious than common assault because the victim was assaulted in the line of duty. There is also an offence of assault on a police officer when attempting to resist arrest which has a maximum penalty of 2 years. Where the injuries to the victim are more serious, more severe offences will be charged such as ABH and GBH, which have higher maximum penalties.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to better protect emergency services from attacks by youths.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
On 20 February 2007, the Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 came into force. This Act, which specifically includes firefighters, makes it an offence to obstruct or hinder an emergency worker responding to emergency circumstances.
Fire and rescue authorities have in place various measures to engage with young people in their areas. While any attack on firefighters while carrying out their duties is one too many, the number of attacks in England continues to fall.