| Assaults on public service workers up 15% |
| Unison Scotland has collected data from public services across Scotland - including local authorities, health boards, social landlords and others - finding that public bodies recorded a total of more than 75,000 physical and verbal assaults on workers in 2024, up by 15% on the previous year. The union found that almost half of the total, around 37,000, occurred in educational settings, including schools, colleges and nurseries, while 63% of assaults targeted local authority workers and 24% targeted health workers. Scott Donohoe from Unison Scotland said the figures were "troubling", with violence at work remaining "a massive issue in public services across Scotland". "For local councils", he said, "there's a clear link between service cuts and rising violence. In the NHS, the workforce crisis is also a key factor. Employers and the Scottish Government must take urgent action to protect staff. That means fully recording every incident, following up appropriately and providing real support to workers affected." |
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