Local Authority Workers Report Catalogue Of Violent Incidents

Biting, spitting, swearing and hair-pulling. These are some of the abuses courageous council staff endure in their day to day jobs. The information came to light after The Press used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain details of attacks on City of York Council workers.

They include staff being hit, threatened, chased and attacked in a variety of ways. Linda Wilkinson, of Unison,said: “Incidents where people have been abused, or bitten or kicked are probably on the increase, because a lot of them are drug-related these days.”

She said the council had got better at dealing with incidents. She said: “We say to the council that they have a duty of care to provide a safe environment for staff and they do take into account our concerns.”

The log includes the brutal incident reported in The Press last year, when three teenage thugs chased the keeper of the Bar Walls before throwing him off the battlements.

Chris Wooldridge, of Holgate, York, escaped serious injury but was left traumatised. Other entrants include a support worker at Yearlsey Bridge Centre, who wrote that an attacker “grabbed me and bit below my eye.” Three other employees have also recorded being bitten.

Another Yearsley Bridge employee had her hair pulled out twice, while a carer at Morrell House said their assailant “pinned me against the wall trying to spit in my face”.

A home support worker at Howe Hill said someone “ran at me with a bottle” and covered them with beer, while a home care worker at The Leyes in Osbaldwick recorded someone saying: “Don’t worry, I aren’t going to stab you”, and repeatedly saying: “I aren’t allowed to touch you.”

The log also includes two incidents involving parking attendants. One, from Castle Car Park, wrote: “He pushed me in the back and grabbed my cap and ran off.” Another said a man had shoved the parking ticket into the warden, pushing him backwards.

In total, there were 26 recorded incidents from March 2006 to March 2007. A council spokeswoman said: “City of York Council takes violence and aggression towards staff extremely seriously. The council’s Staff Warning Register provides managers and council members with information to help protect their safety and that of their staff. The council also works with the police to provide conflict management training for staff.”

Steve Galloway, leader of the council until May 3, said: “Some of our staff are in jobs which are in direct contact with members of the public who may be either irritated or alternatively may be receiving care services for mental health problems which mean that they are less predictable than the majority of the population.”

He said the trend was stable, and added: “Some council workers have a thankless job and I, and I am sure all members of the council, are grateful to them for their efforts. We will do everything we can to promote their health and safety.”