Assaults against paramedics have risen slightly despite the introduction of CCTV in ambulances.

Cameras were activated in all 800 South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) vehicles, covering Kent, Surrey and Sussex, in 2014.

The introduction of the technology, which is advertised both inside and outside of vehicles, was a response to patients’ violent outbursts, although a spokesman stressed such incidents were very rare.

Thirty percent of all assaults happen near or in an ambulance.

It was hoped footage, which is stored for 20 days according to NHS policy and can be viewed by a limited number of staff, would deter potentially aggressive passengers, and lead to more successful prosecutions.

The use of CCTV also paves the way for future medical advancement, with links between hospitals and vehicles aiding treatment.

The full cost of the scheme is tricky to pin down as cameras are included in the £170,000 build cost of vehicles.

While the number of attacks has risen slightly since 2014, SECAmb successfully took action against 20 offenders between September and November last year.

Ten of these were for physical assaults, of which seven led to criminal prosecution.

According to NHS statistics, in the whole of the 2013 financial year – before cameras were activated – only nine attacks were pursued through the courts. In the same period, 113 assaults were reported - this rose to 126 the following year.

Both these figures work out as 33 assaults per 1,000 members of staff.

Although SECAmb’s figures differ slightly, which could be down to the date incidents were reported, they show the same trend.

A spokesman said: “Just one assault against our staff is one too many, and ambulance crews must never be made to feel that violence is a part of their jobs.

“We encourage staff to report and take action against anyone who physically attacks or verbally abuses them.”

In Kent alone, the trust responded to 220,000 calls in 2014-15.