New course protects frontline workers

TTC to rehabilitate low-level offenders with new ‘Attacks on Emergency Workers’ course, helping to protect frontline workers and reduce the burden on UK prisons

Training and compliance expert, TTC, is launching a new course to provide restorative justice to offenders of verbal and physical assaults on UK emergency services workers. The Police Out of Court Disposal (OOCD) for ‘Attacks on Emergency Workers,’ comes as violence against ambulance staff is up 123%[i], assaults on prison officers by prisoners have risen by 300%[ii] over a five-year period, and a UK police officer is assaulted every ten minutes[iii].

In the face of this escalating violence against frontline workers, the OOCD course will use proven behavioural change techniques (BCT). It will help offenders understand the effect of the assault on their victims and its consequences, as well as develop empathy to ultimately reduce the likelihood of re-offending.

The ‘Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act’ was introduced in the UK in 2018, bringing legislation that carries a maximum of two years’ imprisonment. However, prisons are today at a capacity crisis point. By drawing upon advanced knowledge of behavioural change, there is now an option for OOCDs to be used for less serious attacks which helps reduce the burden on prisons and the probability of reoffending by those referred to the Courts. Offenders will have to face up to the impact of their behaviour, have the opportunity to make reparation and agree on a plan for their restoration in the community.

The workshop style Attacks on Emergency Workers OOCD course will be delivered online and is designed to be fully inclusive, suitable for those lacking in literacy skills, and includes discussion and conversation throughout.