THE number of assaults on ambulance staff has increased over the past year, according to figures released today by the NHS Security Management Service.

The statistics reveal that 81 members of staff at the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust were attacked during 2006/07.

That is an increase of 14 on the collective figure of 67 for the three former county trusts during the previous year.

The Trust has attributed the rise to their steps in raising awareness of the subject. One step taken was the appointment of a dedicated security manager, Bill Chilcott.

Mr Chilcott said: "We need to send out a message to staff that we do not accept that this behaviour is part of the job.

"Therefore, we are actively encouraging staff to come forward with such cases so that we can ensure proper measures are taken to not only reduce the risk but also bring the people who act anti-socially to justice."

The Trust, in conjunction with NHS Security Management Services, successfully took out its first private prosecution against a woman after she assaulted a Sittingbourne technician in Strood earlier this year.

The woman, who was from Strood, was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 compensation and £60 costs when she appeared before Medway magistrates in October.

Mr Chilcott added: "Ambulance clinicians are there to help patients and they should be able to do that without the fear of being attacked."