The North West Ambulance Service has described an attack on a paramedic over the weekend as 'abhorrent'.
The worker was pushed off his bike in Manchester city centre on Sunday (May 7) by one of a group of around 150 people who were 'engaging in anti-social behaviour', police said. Thankfully, he was not injured.
But the ambulance service said this incident, which sparked a police response and triggered officers to put a huge dispersal order in place across the city, was not just a 'one-off', with paramedics often facing violent or aggressive people while trying to do their jobs.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
In a statement, an NWAS spokesperson said: "Attacks like this are abhorrent, and our staff shouldn’t have to fear violence or aggression as they do their jobs. Furthermore, regrettably, this is not something they face as just a one-off during their careers.
"While the paramedic involved luckily wasn’t injured on this occasion, acts of violence can have long-lasting physical and mental effects. We continue to do a lot of work to support staff who’ve been victims, and we encourage them to report incidents no matter the situation and, where appropriate, to work with the police to push for prosecution."
Police said the large group involved was 'engaging in anti-social behaviour', with some spraying the walls inside the shopping centre and on the windows outside. The group also reportedly blocked the tram tracks at Exchange Square and threw bottles at police officers.
Pat Karney, the council's city centre spokesperson, said the group was made up of 'young people' who have caused disruption in the city centre at least 'three times'. He said the group travel from different areas across the north west to congregate outside the Arndale.
He added that those involved in pushing the paramedic should be 'ashamed' and that there would be an urgent meeting between Greater Manchester Police and Manchester City Council about what happened. Following the incident, Superintendent Nicola Williams said: "On occasion, we have problems with people coming into the city centre and engaging in anti-social behaviour and the police are taking decisive action to stop this.
"Members of the public who live, visit or come into the city to work should not have to witness this behaviour or be put at risk. Today, my officers have had bottles thrown at them and this is totally unacceptable.
"The Dispersal Order means we will serve anyone who is taking part in this disturbing behaviour, notice to leave our City and they won't be allowed to return for at least 48 hours."
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- 'My baby itched until he bled all over the bed because of this horrific side effect of coming off medication'
- Paedophile who forced teenager to have sex after plying her with drugs dead
- Major pharmacy change will make patients' and GPs' lives easier
- The jailed hitman who shot dead Salford Mr Big Paul Massey is stabbed in prison
- Man tells of moment he rushed to help stabbing victim following 'baseball bat and knife' attack
