As violence against public service workers reaches alarming levels, Roz Foyer argues that the real threat isn’t rising crime — it’s the collapse of overstretched services.

The knife attack on the LNER train from Doncaster to London last week shocked the UK. It was as inexplicable as it was inexcusable.

But for too many workers, fear of violence is a daily reality.

Take Araf Saddiq, a Lanarkshire paramedic and UNISON representative. He’s been assaulted five times, and verbally and racially abused more times than he can count — all while treating and transferring patients. He’s suffered a dislocated shoulder, broken ribs, and an injured knee.

He’s far from alone.

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Since 2019, Scotland’s hospitals have recorded more than 51,000 attacks against staff. In social care, a worker is attacked every 30 minutes. Around 85% of social workers have experienced assault, harassment, or verbal abuse.

The picture is the same across most of our public services.

Over 80% of schools experience violent or aggressive incidents every week. The Health and Safety Executive reports that injuries in Scotland’s schools have tripled in a decade — the fastest rise anywhere in Britain.

On our transport networks, almost two-thirds of workers faced violence last........

© Herald Scotland