Violence and abuse against ambulance staff in the UK are now at the highest level on record according to the last data from the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE).
There were 22,536 incidents of violence, aggression and abuse directed at paramedics and other ambulance workers in 2024-25, up 15% on the 19,633 in 2023-24.
Following an increase in enquiries from sexual assault victims who work in the healthcare profession, Sexual Abusse Compensation Advice (SACA) set out to investigate the current scale of sexual abuse towards NHS ambulance staff across the UK.
How Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice Can Help
Here at Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice, we have a team of specialist criminal injury solicitors who have many years of experience helping people claim compensation for sexual assaults and rape. We offer a free and confidential 24-hour helpline which you can access via phone or live chat.
How We Conducted Our Research
We sent out Freedom of Information requests to every NHS Ambulance Trust in the UK, asking for the number of sexual assaults on ambulance staff and paramedics in the last five years – broken down by years between 2020 and 2024.
We also asked for a breakdown by assault type, as well as the number of assaults perpetrated by staff members and the number perpetrated by a patient or other.
Lastly, we asked for the gender of both reported victims and alleged offenders.
Next, SACA obtained data from NHS Resolution, the legal arm of the health service, asking for the number of legal claims that have been lodged against UK Ambulance Trusts as a result of assaults (of all types) on staff.
We also obtained the latest figures from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) which is a government-backed organisation that can offer compensation to victims of sexual abuse.
The Results Of Our Research
National Findings
Figures obtained by SACA revealed that all UK Ambulance Trusts in the UK that responded to the FOI request within the deadline reported an increase in the number of sexual assaaults on ambulance staff between 2020 and 2024.
The majority reported the higehst number of sexual assaults on staff in 2024.
National Officer for GMB, the union for NHS Works, Rachel Harrison told SACA: “It’s an utter disgrace our ambulance workers suffer these attacks as they try to save lives.
“This is a national problem and it is getting worse.”
More than 65,000 NHS staff reported sexual assaults and harassment for patients, their relatives and other members of the public in 2024 in the health service’s annual survey.
For the second-year-running, the NHS staff survey for England asked workers if they had been the target of unwanted sexual behaviour, which includes inappropriate or offensive sexualised comments, touching and assault.
Of the 743,397 NHS staff who responded, a total of 65,568 reported sexual assaults and harassment by the public and other staff last year.
Union officer, Ms Harrison added: “GMB members were instrumental in changing the law, to make attacks on ambulance workers an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing.
“But it’s not enough – we need a zero tolerance approach from the police, trusts, Ministers and the public.”
Sexual Abuse Compensation Advice also obtained the latest data from NHS Resolution, the legal arm of the NHS, regarding the number of legal claims that have been lodged against UK Ambulance Trusts as a result of assaults (of all types) on staff.
Since 2019, there have been 74 legal claims and incidents of ambulance staff assaults reported to the NHS legal body. Of those, 36 related to orthopaedic injuries, 13 pertained to facial injuries and 9 were for head injuries.
A further 8 claims and incidents were logged relating to psychiatric damage and eight more for injuries to internal organs.
In the last five years, UK Ambulance Trusts have settled 15 such claims with compensation payouts amounting to £589,533.
A further £100,498 was paid for NHS legal costs as well as £267,518 for the claimant’s legal costs – giving a grand total of £957,549.
Figures from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) – which is a government-backed organisation that can offer compensation to victims of sexual abuse, shows that just 13,313 applications were received in the last year from alleged victims of sexual assault or abuse.
CICA Specialist at SACA, Ellie Lamey said: “The number of sexual assault/abuse victims who have applied for CIC is staggeringly low compared to the number of offences being reported.
“It is so important that victims know there is support available for them and not to be deterred or fearful of rejection.
“Victims should be aware that they can report historical periods of abuse/assaults to the police, regardless of the amount of time that has passed.
“Victims can avoid rejections by ensuring they fully cooperate with the police in bringing the assailant to justice as well as seeking appropriate medical attention regarding any physical or psychological injuries sustained from the assault they are a victim of.
“CICA data from 2020-2022 shows that 18 per cent of applications are submitted outside of the two-year time limit, and of these 61 per cent went on to receive an award.
“With relevant evidence, we can provide exceptional circumstances that have contributed to the delay in a victim submitting an application.”
National Outlook
East Midlands Ambulance Service
East Midlands Ambulance Service has seen a concerning rise in the number of staff and paramedics who have been sexually assaulted while on duty in the last five years.
Between 2020 and 2024, hundreds of EMAS staff were subjected to various forms of sexual assaults while at work, with incidents escalating year-on-year.
In 2024 alone, there were 113 incidents of “sexual disruptive behaviour” recorded, alongside 31 instances of “sexual abuse patient on staff” and 12 cases of “sexual abuse staff on staff” – the highest figures recorded in the five-year period.
The majority of assaults on EMAS staff were perpetrated by patients or members of the public. In 2024, 144 assaults were attributed to patients or others, compared to 12 incidents involving fellow staff members.
Across the five-year span:
- 2020 saw 115 assaults by patients and fewer than 5 by staff members.
- 2021 recorded 132 assaults by patients, again with fewer than 5 by staff.
- 2022 had 105 assaults by patients and no reported assaults by staff.
- 2023 figures rose to 130 patient assaults and 5 staff-on-staff assaults.
- 2024 saw the highest numbers, with 144 assaults by patients and 12 by colleagues.
EMAS highlighted that changes to their HR reporting system in 2023 may have influenced the way some incidents were captured, but stressed that all reports of sexual assault are taken seriously and recorded according to Care Quality Commission (CQC) definitions.
Due to confidentiality and data protection laws, the Trust was unable to provide detailed descriptions of each incident or breakdowns by gender.
North East Ambulance Service
North East Ambulance data, cited incidents in the last five years included; ‘patient touching themselves inappropriately whilst staring at staff,’ patient groped member of staff,’ ‘patient sexually inappropriate with staff, offers of sexual acts, threats of sexual acts.’
Across the five-year span:
- 2020 saw 35 assaults by patients.
- 2021 recorded 29 assaults by patients.
- 2022 had 31 assaults by patients and no reported assaults by staff.
- 2023 figures rose to 40 patient assaults.
- 2024 saw the highest numbers, with 69 assaults by patients and 1 by a colleague.
North West Ambulance Service
Between 2020 and 2024, more than 175 North West staff were subjected to various forms of sexual assaults while at work, with incidents escalating year-on-year.
In 2024 alone, there were 156 incidents of sexual abuse towards staff – the highest figures recorded in the five year period.
These included 49 instances of sexual misconduct and 107 incidents of sexual assault.
Since 2020, there has been 12 allegations of sexual harassment where the victim was a North West Ambulance Service employ and 52 allegations of sexual misconduct.
There has also been a 109 allegations of sexual assault and one of rape.
Northenr Ireland Ambulance Service
Between April 2023 and March 2024 alone, there were 46 reported instances of sexual assault against NIAS staff – the highest figure recorded in the five-year period and all of which were perpetrated by a patient or member of the public.
The majority of sexual assaults recorded in the last year took place at the scene of a call response. Others took place either in the ambulance, at the hospital emergency department or over the phone.
Incidents involved, inappropriate sexualised remarks, patient physically exposing themselves to staff and inappropriate physical contact from a patient.
Between 2020 and 2024,the number of sexual assaults on staff while at work have increased by more than 80 per cent.
In the last five years, there has more than 38 incidents of sexual assault on Scottish Ambulance staff recorded with eight logged by Grampian Health Board and 7 recorded by Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board.
A further five were also recorded by the Lothian Health Board. All other Scottish Health Boards logged less than five. All of which were perpetrated by patients or members of the public.
Similarly, there have been around 12 more sexual assaults on Scottish Ambulance staff perpetrated by other staff members.
Across the five-year span:
- Ayrshire & Arran Health Board | <5 sexual assaults
- Fife Health Board | <5 sexual assaults
- Forth Valley Health Board | <5 sexual assaults
- Grampian Health Board | 8 sexual assaults
- Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board | 7 sexual assaults
- Lanarkshire Health Board | <5 sexual assaults
- Lothian Health Board | 5 sexual assaults
South East Coast Ambulance Service
Between 2020 and 2024, more than 95 SEC ambulance staff were subjected to various forms of sexual assaults while at work, with incidents escalating year-on-year.
In 2024 alone, there were 29 recorded incidents of sexual assault on ambulance staff – a rise of 107% compared with 2020 and the highest figure recorded in the five-year period.
The majority of assaults on SEC staff were perpetrated by patients or members of the public with one incident being perpetrated by another member of staff.
In 2023/24, 11 of the reported incidents took place in the ambulance while eight took place at a place of residence.
A further four sexual assaults on staff happened in a hospital and the majority of victims were female.
West Midlands Ambulance Service
Between 2020 and 2024, hundreds of WMAS staff were subjected to various forms of sexual assaults while at work, with incidents escalating year-on-year.
In 2024 alone, there were 2024 recorded incidents of sexual assaults on staff – a rise of 124 per cent compared with 2020 and the highest figures recorded in the five-year period.
The majority of assaults of WMAS staff were perpetrated by patients or members of the public. In 2024, 162 assaults were attributed to patients or others, compared to 42 incidents involving fellow staff members.
Across the five-year span:
- 2020 saw 84 assaults by patients and 7 by staff members.
- 2021 recorded 129 assaults by patients and 5 by staff.
- 2022 had 100 assaults by patients and 20 assaults by staff.
- 2023 figures rose to 129 patient assaults and 36 staff-on-staff assaults.
- 2024 saw the highest numbers, with 162 assaults by patients and 42 by colleagues.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Between 2020 and 2024, hundreds of YAS staff were subjected to various forms of sexual assaults while at work, with incidents escalating year-on-year.
In 2024 alone, there were a total of 232 instance of sexual acts/behvoiurs conducted towards staff by patients or members of the public – the highest figure recorded in the five-year period.
A spokesperson for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said the service only began recording allegations of staff who have acted against other staff members, from November 2023 and that so far, there had been 10 such incidents.
Between 2020-2024:
- 2020/21 saw 132 assaults by patients or members of the public.
- 2021/22 recorded 179 assaults by patients or members of the public.
- 2022/23 had a further 179 assaults by patients or members of the public.
- 2023/24 figures rose to 232 patient assaults and 10 staff-on-staff assaults.
In the last year alone (2023/24) the service also confirmed that the majority 72 sexual assault incidents happened remotely (either over the phone or in other locations), some 61 assaults where recorded in South Yorkshire, while 44 were loggerd in Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees.
A further 38 sexual assaults towards ambulance staff happened in Leeds and Wakefield as well as 18 in Hull and East Yorkshire and 9 in North Yorkshire.
London Ambulance Service
Between April 2024 and April 2025, there were a total of 482 instances of sexual assault towards staff by patients or members of the public
- Sexual assault – Physical | a total of 98 incidents were recorded.
- Sexual incidents – Other | 175 instances were logged.
- Incidents of grab and touch | 209 recorded.
Welsh Ambulance Service
Between 2020 and 2024, more than 100 WAS staff were subjected to various forms of sexual assaults while at work, with incidents esalating over the last five years.
Since 2020, there has been 103 instances of sexual acts, behaviours conducted towards staff by patients or members of the public including, sexual harrassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault and rape.
Between 2020-2024:
- 2020 saw 17 sexual assaults on staff. Of those, 2 were patient to staff indecent exposure, 14 were sexual harassment/assault – patient to staff and 1 was sexual harassment/assault by a relative/escorty/member of the public to staff.
- 2021 saw 16 assaults in total. Of those, 2 were indecent exposure and 14 were sexual harassment/assault.
- 2022 recorded 16 assaults.
- 2023 figures rose to 32 sexual assaults by patients or members of the public.
- 2024 saw 22 sexual assaults including, indecent exposure, sexually inappropriate behaviour, sexual assault and verbal assault (gender/sexual orientation).
