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Press Release 7th December 2006
Paramedics Call Time on 'Glass' Assaults
Paramedics from the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust are calling on owners of night clubs and late night bars to introduce new polycarbonate bottles and glasses to reduce the high incidence of violent attacks on their staff and customers.
Paramedics from the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust are calling on owners of nightclubs and late night bars to introduce new polycarbonate bottles and glasses to reduce the high incidence of violent attacks on their staff and customers.
During the last six months the Trust has responded to around 7,500 assaults across Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. More than ten percent of these will be to fights occurring at venues such as night clubs and late night bars, where alcohol fuelled revellers are out for a good time.
Paramedic Tony Heselton said, “We see some very unpleasant injuries caused by broken bottles and glasses which are used as weapons and cause horrific injuries, often disfiguring and maiming victims for life.”
Recently, a 19 year old defendant appeared at Reading Crown Court and was convicted of causing actual bodily harm, having rammed a bottle into the face of a reveller at a Reading night spot. He narrowly missed a jail term.
“The solution is very easy”, said South Central Ambulance Service Operations Director Ian Ferguson, “These horrendous injuries could easily be avoided if the nightclubs introduced polycarbonate bottles and glasses for their customers. There are plenty of high quality replacement products available. They look just like glass and are very sturdy, but best of all they can’t be used as a dangerous weapon”.
Success has already been claimed in the town of Bournemouth, where Dorset police are claiming a 70% reduction in glass related injuries after 25 night spots supported the call for change and replaced their stock with polycarbonate products.
The Trust is also supporting a nationwide campaign started by Marjorie and Robert Golding whose son Blake received horrific injuries after being ‘bottled’ whilst working as a nightclub doorman in Milton Keynes on Christmas day in 2004. Following the attack, Blake needed 40 stitches in his face and lost four pints of blood when he was attacked as he went to the aid of a female colleague.
His father said that his son was still badly affected by the attack: "He is up and running but has not worked full-time since Christmas. It has left him mentally scarred and he really is having a tough time."
His attacker, Jamie Palmer, of Milton Keynes, was sentenced to two years in prison in June 2005.
Mr and Mrs Golding hope their campaign leads to a change in legislation which stops other families from going through a similar ordeal. South Central Ambulance Service is supporting the campaign by encouraging members of the public to sign the Golding Family petition on line via a web site.
The Golding's campaign web address is: www.pop-campaign.co.uk
