1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,040 Speaker 1: So the other bit of work that we're getting some 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: movement on is this crackdown on assaults on first responders. 3 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: The existing provision for assaulting police will be extended to 4 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: cover the paramedics, that's the ambos, the fire of firefighters, 5 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: and the prison officers. Maximum penalty for assault with intent 6 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: to injure will increase. The five years injuring with intent 7 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:18,760 Speaker 1: will increase to seven years. The general Manager of Ambulance 8 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 1: Operations for St John as Duke Coburn, who is with 9 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,319 Speaker 1: a stud good morning, Good morning Mike. We're heading in 10 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: the right direction here. 11 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:31,639 Speaker 2: Yes, absolutely, we're supporting any initiative that's going to hold 12 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 2: offenders to account for assaults or violence towards amblance officers 13 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:38,840 Speaker 2: and other first responders. 14 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: How many attacks are there? 15 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 2: It's a daily occurrence, often a number of times a 16 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 2: day across New Zealand towards our staff. Wow. 17 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: And based on what these drugged up, drunk people or 18 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 1: just nut jobs. 19 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 2: A majority of them are drugging alcohol related, but often 20 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 2: just people who for whatever reason want a verbally abused 21 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 2: or for physically abuse our people. 22 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,479 Speaker 1: Based on what is their problem with somebody who's trying 23 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: to help. 24 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: A great question Mike, and I really one. I don't 25 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 2: have a great answer to Our people come to work 26 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 2: every day to do the best they can for people 27 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 2: when they're sick and injured, and it's just unfathomable to 28 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: me that people will verbally abuse or physically abuse our people. 29 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,600 Speaker 1: And presumably that you'd want the courts to back up 30 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: these new sentences. But having said that, do they do 31 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: you think offer a deterrent or not? 32 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 2: I hope so. We don't know the detail of the 33 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 2: bill at the moment, but absolutely we want people to 34 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: be held account if they are arrested and go through 35 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 2: the court process. But ultimately I hope that this actually 36 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 2: deters people from even doing any of this to our 37 00:01:53,600 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: people and our fellow colleagues and the other first responder services. 38 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: To appreciate Stu Carburn, who's the general manager of Ambulances. 39 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to 40 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: News Talks at B from six am weekdays, or follow 41 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.