In an appalling act of recklessness, mindless vandals have wreaked havoc on a life-saving ambulance in the Hartlepool area, leaving the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) stunned and livid.
The shocking incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, May 31, while the hardworking crew were inside a house, responding to an emergency call.
The thugs, showing a complete lack of respect for the life-saving service, smashed the ambulance’s windows, ripped out a portion of the dashboard, and tore out electronics, including a radio, a data terminal, and a tablet computer, which were found strewn across the nearby road and pavement.
No Respect for Heroes
On returning to their vehicle, the devastated crew were appalled to find their means of transport was incapacitated by this senseless act.
The heartless culprits fled the scene, leaving behind a trail of destruction that will take an estimated three weeks to repair, costing the service a whopping £2,100.
In this case, thankfully, the patient didn’t need to be rushed to the hospital. But imagine if they had – it doesn’t bear thinking about.
Disgraceful Numbers
But shockingly, this isn’t an isolated incident.
NEAS has been a frequent target for yobs with nothing better to do.
According to statistics, there were 125 reported incidents of criminal damage to NEAS emergency vehicles in the 12 months up to March 2023.
Most of these incidents, a whopping 80%, occurred in urban areas.
What is the most common type of damage? Graffiti accounts for 50% of the incidents.
Moreover, other damage types included slashing tires, keying bodywork, and breaking windows.
And while in 70% of incidents, the villains were caught and arrested, the typical sentence is just a paltry £500 fine—an absolute disgrace.
A Plea to the Public
NEAS is urging anyone with information about this recent incident to come forward.
This type of crime isn’t just an attack on a vehicle; it’s an attack on the community, delaying or even preventing life-saving services from reaching those in desperate need.
If you see someone damaging an emergency vehicle, don’t stay silent.
Get on the phone and call the police. Let’s stand up against these cowards and show them we won’t tolerate this sort of behaviour in our communities.
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An attack on an ambulance or paramedic’s vehicle where the equipment may well be used to save a life is in my opinion attempted murder and those scum that carry out these acts should be given a life sentence and a good kicking preferably both.
Steve Barclay MP Minister for Health better speak to the Justice minister and ask what the courts are playing at allowing yobs to get away with trashing Ambulances with the resulting delays due to a vehicle being off the road and cost. A fine of £500 is nothing
The justice system needs to up its game these disgusting wicked devils need locking up for a very long time. I hope when caught they and their families are made to pay for damages then put in prison. Also put them on a register for their families to never get help from emergency services ever again. Scumbags all of them
Attacking defenceless NHS staff and/or their equipment should be an automatic jail sentence of at least 12 months, with a release date of a year for good behaviour, doubling on each subsequent conviction.
Jail is expensive, but it is far cheaper to lock them up than inflict financial loss and cause fear among the respectable majority. At the very least, such bottom feeders will be unable to repeat their behaviour for a while and will have plenty of time to not only ponder on the error of their ways but also carefully consider their future.