Too few of those who attack South West ambulance staff end up in prison, a union is arguing, ahead of a key vote on toughening laws on assaults against emergency workers.

GMB, a general union that also represents ambulance staff, found that only one out of 294 reports of physical assaults in south west England resulted in a custodial sentence between 2016/2017 and 2017/2018.

That’s just 99.7 per cent as a proportion.

Examples of violent attacks reported by GMB members include: being bitten, stabbed, having blood spat at them by intravenous drug users, having bones broken, attempts to hit them with cars, and racist and sexual abuse.

The union got the data from South Western Ambulance Service, which is responsible for running ambulances for the NHS in the region

In a statement in response to GMB’s analysis, SWASFT stressed it has “a zero tolerance approach to any form of abuse towards its staff”.

“Our staff play a vital role in serving the community by delivering high quality care to all patients and they should be able to fulfill their life-saving role without fear of abuse or assault.”

A full breakdown of the data provided by SWASFT shows that the reports did not always lead to sentences because, for instance, the member of ambulance staff involved did not want to take any further action, or because the perpetrator received an alternative punishment, like a police caution or a community order.

GMB’s investigation comes as MPs prepare for a key vote on a bill that could toughen offences against those who assault emergency workers.

If passed on Friday, it will add a new offence of common assault against an emergency worker and require courts to treat attacks on emergency workers as an aggravating factor for sentencing purposes.

Stroud’s MP David Drew is voting for the bill, which was originally proposed by Labour backbencher Chris Bryant, not the Government - though the bill has No 10's backing.

Mr Drew said: “This is an important bill which protects those working for the public in the most difficult of situations. I’m glad that Chris Bryant has brought it forward at this time and given that it has Government support it should pass into law. I shall be there Friday to help it on its way.”

Have you ever seen an emergency worker suffer abuse or even an attack around Stroud? Get in touch at alex.clark@newsquest.co.uk