Disturbing footage of two Lincolnshire Police officers being assaulted has been captured on body worn camera.

The footage shows two officers attending a call for a concern for safety in North Hykeham, on December 10. While attending, one officer was pushed into a hedge by the offender and the other officer was dragged to the ground and punched several times in the face, by the same male offender.

With the festive season comes the temptation for a small minority of people to over indulge, we thought it timely to issue a reminder about a recently introduced law which increases the penalties for assaults on all Emergency Services Personnel.

The Assaults on Emergency (Workers) Act 2018 which, in response to an increase in assaults on emergency workers, came into force last month now allows the courts to impose up to a year’s imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Under the new legislation, emergency workers include police and police staff, ambulance workers and NHS staff as well as Fire and Rescue staff, Prison Officers and those working in other custodial duties and whether these workers are paid or unpaid.   Where assaults cause more serious injury the legislation considers the offence ‘aggravated’ if it is committed against an emergency worker and gives the Courts the option to impose even harsher sentences.

Chief Constable Bill Skelly explained why it’s important to convey a clear message that assaults on officers and other emergency workers will not be tolerated. He said “We have a duty to look after and protect the public but we are all too often prevented from doing so due to violent individuals who choose to attack those who are there to help them.” He goes on to condemn a view that assaults on emergency workers are inevitable. He said, “They are not simply ‘part of the job.’”

As with all emergency workers, Chief Constable Skelly offers a reminder that Police Officers and other emergency service workers are human beings doing a difficult job. “Most importantly it should be remembered that they are fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. When they are attacked they become victims just like any other, but victims who have been attacked while trying to help others.”

Definition of an emergency worker under the Act

An emergency worker is someone who falls into the following broad categories:

• Police Officers and staff (includes PCSOs)
• National Crime Agency Officers
• Prison Officer or someone engaged in custodial duties within an establishment
• NHS staff and staff of agencies engaged in NHS supportive work
• Fire and Rescue Service staff
• It does not matter whether those emergency workers in the list are paid or unpaid (this includes Specials and Volunteers)

Video

Viewers may find the video distressing

20 Dec 18 1:37 PM

Children ‘placed at harm’ and ‘unsafe systems’ found at Pilgrim emergency department

Inventor squeezes 26ft Christmas tree in 18ft house

Transgender councillor says petition for her resignation is ‘hate campaign’

Inquest hears how baby tragically drowned in bath with siblings

Lincolnshire Police are supporting a campaign by the Home Office against forced marriage.

A forced marriage is one in which either or both people involved don’t consent to the marriage.Victims can be forced into marriage in different ways – this may include physical, psychological, financial, sexual or emotional pressure.Sarah Norburn, domestic violence coordinator said, “In Lincolnshire we may have low recorded figures for forced marriage offences, but our community will not be immune to these issues. We must be alert to forced marriage, it is illegal in the UK – we must recognise and report it. By supporting this national campaign we hope to raise awareness and ensure that no one continues to suffer in silence.”

Read more about forced marriage.

Recognise a forced marriage

It can be hard to recognise when someone is being forced into marriage, especially when this involves psychological and emotional pressure rather than physical abuse.

For example, some victims of forced marriage are pressured by being made to feel responsible for bringing shame to their family.

Report a forced marriage

Everyone has the right to choose who they marry, when they marry or if they marry at all.

Contact the Forced Marriage Unit if:

• you’re trying to stop a forced marriage
• you need help leaving a marriage you’ve been forced into
• you think you’re going to be taken abroad to be forced to marry

Contact the nearest British embassy if you have already been taken abroad.

Video

Forced marriage: your right to choose

Lincoln paedophile caught in chat room honeytrap

 

• 18-34 year olds most likely to take life endangering risks during a flood
• Around 1,000 people are rescued from flood waters every year with around 170 rescued from inside or on top of a vehicle
• Driving through flood water is the number one cause of death during flooding, with storm selfies and wave watching also recorded as causes of death.

Driving through flood water, taking storm selfies and wave watching during coastal flooding are some of the life endangering risks that young people would take in a flood, putting themselves and rescue services in extreme danger, according to the Environment Agency and National Fire Chiefs Council.

In addition to being the age group most likely to take life endangering risks during a flood, people aged 18-34 are also the least likely to know if they live in an areas at risk of flooding, or how to protect their homes if flooding was forecast.

According to Home Office statistics, Fire and Rescue Services in England attended around 15,000 flood related incidents in 2016/17, and rescued or evacuated around 1,000 people from flood waters. On average around 170 people a year are rescued from inside or on top of a vehicle surrounded by water.

In September this year, dramatic footage was posted online of a woman trapped in her car on a flooded road in Yorkshire. In a heroic rescue, a passer-by was able to smash her car window and pull her from the vehicle to safety moments before the car became submerged.

In January 2016 North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue was called out to rescue nearly 30 children after their school bus became semi-submerged in flood waters as their driver attempted to drive through flood waters on a closed road near York. Research undertaken by the AA has revealed that driving through flood water is the number one cause of death during flooding.

The warning comes almost 5 years to the day since stormy weather combined with high tides, flooding more than 2,000 properties along the east coast in December 2013. In Boston alone, 800 homes and businesses were affected and over a hundred properties were flooded in South Ferriby by the most serious tidal surge in over 60 years.

Since then, work has started on the £100m Boston Barrier, which will reduce flood risk to 14,000 properties and would have protected the town from the December 2013 flooding. The Environment Agency is also developing other schemes and undertakes regular maintenance work to help protect the more than 24,000 homes, 35,000 hectares of farmland, and Europe’s largest concentration of caravans, all situated on the east coast.

And the Environment Agency with local authorities is also reviewing the current strategy for reducing tidal flood risk on the Humber estuary, where 230,000 homes, 50,000 businesses and 120,000 hectares of high-grade agricultural land are at risk. The new strategy will underpin future investment from 2021.

But with a wet stormy winter forecast, the Environment Agency and Fire and Rescue Services across the country are urging young people to find out how to keep themselves, their loved ones and their homes safe in a flood. And during this year’s Flood Action Campaign, the Environment Agency is encouraging people to look at its ‘Prepare Act Survive’ flood plan, which lists some simple steps to help stay safe in a flood.

Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, said:“Knowing what to do in a flood could save your life and keep the people that you care about safe. Taking some simple steps to prepare in advance could prevent thousands of pounds of damage to your home and your possessions.

“We would really urge young people, wherever they live, whether that’s in their own home, in rented housing, student accommodation or at home with their parents, to look at the Prepare Act Survive plan and find out how to how to protect themselves and their homes.”

 

Dawn Whittaker, NFCC Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Lead said:“Unfortunately fire and rescue services are often called to incidents where people have just underestimated the risks posed by flood water.

“Floods can quickly turn into life-threatening situations so NFCC ask that people listen to advice and avoid entering flood water whether on foot or in a vehicle.”

To find out more about what to do in a flood visit what to do in a flood on Gov.uk.

The Environment Agency is spending more than £2.6billion to build flood schemes around the country as part of its current programme, which will better protect 300,000 homes by 2021. Ahead of this winter it has also invested in more temporary flood barriers and high volume pumps which can be deployed at short notice right across the country whilst also working more closely with partners such as the Fire & Rescue Service – further improving the Environment Agency’s rapid flood response.

Two carol services for county NHS workers and their families have been organised in the run up to Christmas once again this year.

 

The annual Lincolnshire NHS carol services will be held at Boston Centenary Church on Tuesday 11 December and at Lincoln Cathedral on Monday 17 December, both services will start at 7.30pm.

 

The events are free to attend although there will be a collection for NHS charitable funds during the services.

 

Whilst primarily aimed at all staff, volunteers and their families who work across the NHS in Lincolnshire, the services are also open to all members of the public.

 

Music will be led by the Lincolnshire Hospitals Band, the only NHS brass band in the country.

 

Reverend David Knight, Senior Chaplain at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) said he was pleased to be able to host two services again this festive season.

 

“As we head towards Christmas and the end of another challenging year, the annual service offers us an opportunity to come together as an NHS family to give thanks and to celebrate all the work that we do in Lincolnshire.

 

“We are extremely grateful that once again the Lincolnshire Hospitals Band will be leading the music at both services.

 

“Also, in the year that has seen the celebration of 100 years of the Royal Air Force, we are delighted that this year our singing will be supported by our local military wives choirs.

 

“At Boston we will be joined by the Coningsby Military Wives Choir, whilst at Lincoln we will be supported by the Waddington Military Wives Choir.

 

“The services are always extremely popular events and we are delighted to welcome all ages into our inclusive and family friendly celebrations.

 

“I look forward to meeting as many staff and their families as possible as we join together to celebrate another merry Christmas.”

 

Anyone who wishes to attend is invited to just turn up at either of the events, or for any further information, contact Reverend David via email on david.knight2@ulh.nhs.uk.