Mid Canterbury ambulance crews are among those nationwide enduring more assaults while responding to medical call-outs.
They range from verbal abuse to physical assault.
It’s a growing issue nationwide and one which is under review through the Protection for First Responders and Prison Officers Bill. It covers police, ambulance, fire and Corrections officers and aims to make injuring a first responder or prison officer an imprisonable offence.
If passed, it will carry a mandatory minimum sentence of six months’ imprisonment.
St John Mid Canterbury acting territory manager James Watkins said any abuse or assaults against ambulance officers were unacceptable and would not be tolerated.
"St John takes very seriously the safety of its officers and has systems, alerts and supportive measures in place to ensure their security and well-being.
"We have processes in place to secure our stations, including controlling access and locking away medicines.
He said St John was fully supportive of the Bill and the introduction of tougher penalties for those who assault emergency workers.
While figures for Mid Canterbury crews were not available, he said each month there were about 200 incidents of assault or abuse on ambulance officers nationwide.
"These include verbal assaults and physical violence. Of this figure, up to 12 cases are serious, meaning our people need medical treatment and/or time off work.
"Attacks inside our ambulance stations are unusual and abuse or assaults generally occur at an incident in the field."
New Zealand First justice spokesman Darroch Ball, the MP in charge of the Bill, said first responders operate in high risk, urgent, and potentially life threatening situations.
"It is our responsibility to ensure they are safe when doing their job," he said.
"There are more than 50 cases of abuse and assault against New Zealand paramedics each week."
