ATTACKS on emergency workers accounted for a third of all common assaults in Inverclyde between April and November last year, fresh statistics show.

The shocking data was branded “a scandal” during a meeting of the council’s police and fire scrutiny committee, as fears were raised about the number of staff being subjected to abuse while going about their daily duties.

According to a police report presented to elected members, there were 453 recorded common assaults in the district during the eight-month spell, a decrease of almost four per cent on the same period the previous year.

But 135 of these attacks targeted emergency workers, with most crimes perpetrated against police officers.

Port councillor Jim MacLeod raised the matter with senior police chiefs during the committee meeting.

He said: “I think this is a very positive report overall as we are seeing a fair number of crimes being reduced. I’d like to congratulate the police in all their endeavours.

“However, I am very concerned about the attacks on their officers and other emergency workers.

“I think this is a scandal and I really hope the appropriate sentences are being handed out to these people by the courts.”

Chief Inspector Paul Cameron says his team would continue to drive home the message that abuse of officers would not be tolerated.

He told Councillor MacLeod: “I agree with you completely.

“Of all common assaults, 30 per cent were on emergency workers. That is just completely unacceptable.

“We will continue to get that message out there.”

The report also shows violent crimes fell by more than a fifth between April and November compared to that spell in 2019, with 91 recorded.

There were three fewer attempted murders, nine fewer serious assaults and seven fewer robberies.

The overall detection rate for violent crimes is standing at 70.3 per cent, down from 75.4 per cent the previous year.

A total of 38 fireraising crimes were recorded, which is a decrease of one from the previous year. The detection rate is now 21.1 per cent, higher than the previous year’s rate of 12.8 per cent.

Recorded vandalism crimes fell by 13.4 per cent to a total of 336.