Assaults on Victorian emergency workers surge
10 News First · Just In
10 News First
Just In
Victoria’s first responders are facing a shocking increase in abuse, with almost 10 violent incidents reported every week. Their unions say crime across the state has surged, and that mandatory sentencing has done little to curb it.
Breakdown
- Over 3,500 attacks on emergency services workers were reported in Victoria in the past year, a nearly 20 percent increase from the previous year. 15s
- Unions attribute the rise in violence to poor response times and lack of background information when attending incidents. 39s
- Victoria Police link many assaults to societal issues such as drug and alcohol use and mental health episodes. 54s
- Although there is a mandatory six-month jail sentence for these crimes, judges frequently find special circumstances to avoid imposing jail time. 1m 10s
- Despite increasing attacks, there are no current plans for sentencing reform, though officials continue discussions with agency leaders. 1m 27s