The NHS Security Management Service (SMS) has welcomed “the positive revisions” to the sixth edition of the Code for Crown Prosecutors, which it says “underscore the public interest in prosecuting all those who attack health workers”.
Issued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Code provides guidance to prosecutors on the general principles applicable when making decisions about prosecutions. Previously, the NHS SMS said, the Code provided “limited specific examples” of victims of offences who “served the public” – citing the police, prison officers, and nurses. However “members of the emergency services”, and “a health or social welfare professional” are now specifically included. NHS SMS head Richard Hampton said: “This effectively signals to prosecutors across England and Wales that an offence against anybody providing NHS services, including ambulance workers, is to be viewed with particular concern. In time this will lead to more prosecutions of offences against NHS staff, and in turn more convictions.”
