A WAG press release landed stoutly on newsdesks this morning to announce a toughened stance to counter the growing trend of assaults and violent abuse aimed at NHS staff. The "Stop it or Cop it" campaign follows actions taken elsewhere to pursue prosecution & imprisonment for attackers. Yet the message to date is that the judiciary also need to buy into this initiative if it is to be at all meaningful.
In July this year, Swansea-based health chiefs were reported in the press as welcoming the imprisonment of two men in the space of a week for an assault on hospital staff .
Hossain Hashemi of Port Tennant, Swansea was given a three-month jail term after he admitted assaulting an A&E doctor at Morriston Hospital. Later in the week, Mark Craven of Penlan was handed a 12-week custodial sentence after pleading guilty to an attack on two mental health nurses at Cefn Coed Hospital, Swansea.
By comparison, Assembly member Mick Bates who denied three assault and public order offences was last week was nonetheless found guilty of attacking paramedics who came to his aid after he drunkenly fell down stairs at a Cardiff restaurant. He later threatened A&E staff.
The 62-year-old Montgomeryshire Lib Dem AM received a fine, which when added to costs and damages, amounts to £5,490.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have suspended him and begun proceedings to terminate his membership but he intends to remain in office, as an independent, until his terms ends next year.
There is nothing however to disbar him from standing again if he chooses.
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