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Woman held in Stoke-on-Trent over abusive note on ambulance Woman held in Stoke-on-Trent over abusive note on ambulance
(35 minutes later)
Staffordshire police say a 26-year-old woman was arrested for public order offencesStaffordshire police say a 26-year-old woman was arrested for public order offences
Matthew WeaverMatthew Weaver
Mon 19 Feb 2018 09.51 GMTMon 19 Feb 2018 09.51 GMT
Last modified on Mon 19 Feb 2018 10.15 GMT
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A woman has been been arrested in Stoke-on-Trent after reports of an abusive note left on an ambulance. A woman has been been arrested in Stoke-on-Trent after an abusive note was reportedly left on an ambulance.
Staffordshire police said a 26-year-old woman was arrested for public order offences, in the latest incidence of ambulance workers facing intimidation from members of the public. Staffordshire police said a 26-year-old woman was arrested for public order offences, in the latest case of ambulance workers facing intimidation from members of the public.
Ch Insp John Owen, commander of policing in Stoke-on-Trent North, confirmed the arrest in a tweet. He added that the “emergency services must be able to carry out their roles without fear of abuse and intimidation of any kind.” Ch Insp John Owen, the commander of policing in Stoke-on-Trent North, confirmed the arrest in a tweet, saying the “emergency services must be able to carry out their roles without fear of abuse and intimidation of any kind”.
The arrest came after West Midlands ambulance service said a woman left an abusive note on an ambulance dealing with a 999 call in the Tunstall area of the city. The arrest came after West Midlands ambulance service said a woman left an abusive note on a vehicle responding to a 999 call in the Tunstall area of the city.
The handwritten note said: “You have no right to be parked here. I couldn’t give a shit if the whole street collapsed. Now move your van.”The handwritten note said: “You have no right to be parked here. I couldn’t give a shit if the whole street collapsed. Now move your van.”
A Stoke-based paramedic, Katie Tudor, tweeted an image of the note, and said the paramedics involved also received verbal abuse. A Stoke-based paramedic, Katie Tudor, tweeted an image of the note, and said the workers involved also received verbal abuse.
So upset to be sent this by one of our crews this morning! Along with this note left on their 🚑 they received a load of verbal abuse!😡😔@OFFICIALWMAS @StaffsPolice pic.twitter.com/c4UYdcjv86So upset to be sent this by one of our crews this morning! Along with this note left on their 🚑 they received a load of verbal abuse!😡😔@OFFICIALWMAS @StaffsPolice pic.twitter.com/c4UYdcjv86
The service’s operational manager Mike Duggan told the Birmingham Mail that the note illustrated the abuse paramedics face. The service’s operational manager, Mike Duggan, told the Birmingham Mail that the note illustrated the abuse faced by paramedics.
“People seem to have no respect for the work we’re doing or the fact we’re helping someone,” he said. “We don’t block roads for the sake of it.“People seem to have no respect for the work we’re doing or the fact we’re helping someone,” he said. “We don’t block roads for the sake of it.
He said: “What is it going to take? Is one of us going to have to die before they take it seriously?” “What is it going to take? Is one of us going to have to die before they take it seriously?”
In a statement Staffordshire police said the incident happened at around midday on Sunday. Staffordshire police said the incident happened at around midday on Sunday. The woman remains in custody.
The woman remains in custody. In a statement, Owen said: “We will not tolerate abuse or intimidation of our emergency services. This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable and we will take appropriate action against offenders.”
In a statement Owen added: “We will not tolerate abuse or intimidation of our emergency services. This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable and we will take appropriate action against offenders.” Last November, West Midlands ambulance service highlighted a note complaining about an ambulance blocking a driveway as paramedics tried to save a man’s life in the Small Heath area of Birmingham.
Last November, West Midlands ambulance service highlighted a note complaining about an ambulance blocking a driveway as paramedics battled to save a man’s life in the Small Heath area of Birmingham.
“You may be saving lives, but don’t park your van in a stupid place and block my drive,” the note left under the ambulance’s windscreen wiper read. The patient later died in hospital.“You may be saving lives, but don’t park your van in a stupid place and block my drive,” the note left under the ambulance’s windscreen wiper read. The patient later died in hospital.
At the time officials warned about the frequency of attacks against ambulance workers.At the time officials warned about the frequency of attacks against ambulance workers.
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