ALMOST one person a week is prosecuted for attacking emergency service staff in the Lothians, the latest figures show.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill revealed in a parliamentary answer that 49 people were successfully prosecuted under the Emergency Workers Act for assaults in the area in the year 2006-7.
That's more than double the 23 cases for the previous ye
ar, when the legislation first came into effect.
Across Scotland, the figures show, there were 200 people against whom a charge was proven under the Act in 2006-7, compared with 54 the previous year.
Lothian and Borders had the second highest figure after Strathclyde, where there were 87 people with a proven charge against them in 2006-7, up from 19.
The level of assaults could be even higher because the statistics are only for cases where the attack on an emergency worker was the main offence.
Former Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm, MSP for Edinburgh North and Leith, said the figures were "deeply shocking".
He said: "I was very conscious this was an issue when I was the minister and we always took a strong line on attacks on staff and that was backed up by this Act.
"Unfortunately it is being shown to be a very necessary piece of legislation."
He said it was difficult to understand the motivation behind attacks on personnel who were engaged in trying to save lives and offer help in emergency situations. "That's why these figures are so deeply shocking.
"The important thing is to send out a very strong message that it is unacceptable and back that up with strong legal measures."
SNP Lothians MSP Ian McKee, a retired GP in Wester Hailes, said he was "shocked but not surprised" by the figures.
He said: "Some of it can be explained by the fact some people under a lot of stress will act in uncharacteristic ways and hit out at whoever is next to them.
"On other occasions – like people attacking fire engines – it's just mindless stupidity."
The Emergency Workers Act was passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2005.
the legislation makes it a specific offence to assault, obstruct or hinder someone providing an emergency service – or someone assisting an emergency worker in an emergency situation.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of nine months in jail, a fine of £5000, or both.
A Scottish Government spokesman pointed out that the Act only came into force in May 2005, and that many cases from 2005-6 would not reach court till the following year.
He added: "Every public service professional deserves protection from threatening or abusive behaviour."
