More on Zero Tolerance…!!!

Jo kindly commented on my last post and provided a report on a serious incident in the South West of the UK.

These incidents seem to be escalating in their numbers and in their violence.

From BBC 24  Monday, 17 September 2007, 17:06 GMT 18:06 UK

999 crew was attacked at incident
Members of an ambulance crew who attended a fatal stabbing in Bristol were abused and attacked by an angry crowd of about 100 people. Sarah Hodierne and Wayne Evans were the first emergency services on the scene at the Criterion pub on Sunday morning. When the ambulance arrived Ms Hodierne said she was pulled out by her hair as people shouted and swore. Ms Hodierne then tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate Mohamoud Muse Hassan, who had been stabbed in the neck. Vehicle attacked Ms Hodierne said: “I was just doing my job but I was really frightened. “The crowd opened the ambulance door and pulled me out by my hair – shouting, swearing and threatening me – there were just so many of them. It was very, very stressful.” Mr Evans added: “Mr Hassan was in cardiac arrest and even as we got him in the ambulance they were kicking the vehicle and tried to put in the window.” Chris Hewett, of Great Western Ambulance Service, said: “It was a very difficult and volatile situation. The crowd were jostling them and even pulling Sarah’s hair. Despite this they kept calm and did what they could for the patient.” Sergeant Lee George, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: “The ambulance crew were surrounded as they tried to administer first aid and many of the bystanders were intimidating them and trying to obstruct them. “They were very brave to carry on in such extreme circumstances. It was the worst job I have been to in 14 years of police service.” A 22-year-old man and 16-year-old girl have been arrested following the fatal stabbing. ———————————————————-

And I bet that the Ambulance Crew were not issued with stab proof vests either. With all the safe guards in place that we try to adhere to in making our selves safe, sometimes we will find ourselves in a frightening situation. Even with Police on scene it can still be quite daunting and obviously dangerous.

My sympathies go out to the family and friends of the deceased man. But I also hope that the crew were given support for their actions and received recognition for their bravery.

And another report from Uphilldowndale

BBC 24  Monday, 18 June 2007, 12:11 GMT 13:11 UK

Ambulance is attacked in call out
An ambulance has been attacked outside a nightclub while paramedics tried to treat a man with a serious head injury. As the crew tended to the man in the ambulance, in Greater Manchester, a crowd of men who had been beating him broke a window and rocked the van. The victim, a 20-year-old man, had been punched in the face in the Bamboo nightclub in Hazel Grove, in the early hours of Sunday. He punched the attacker back and was then set upon by about 15 others. As the man left the club he was followed by a gang who continued to kick and punch him about the body and face outside on Commercial Road. Stable condition He was lying in the road when the ambulance from Buxton, Derbyshire arrived, and paramedics began treating him inside the van when they came under fire from the mob. The man was taken to Stepping Hill Hospital with a serious head injury, where he remains in a stable condition. Det Insp Terry Sweeney from Stockport CID said: “This was an extremely violent attack by a group of men who clearly out numbered their victim. “The fact that these men then continued to try and attack the victim when paramedics were trying to treat him is unacceptable. “Paramedics are here to save lives and it is unbelievable that people would put them under attack when they are simply trying to do their job.” Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened at about 0150 BST. ————————————————————–

These are some of the incidents that get reported. I just hope that it does not become the norm for society to think that this is acceptable.