Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith has described the number of physical assaults on Perth and Kinross Council staff – 2,517 in three years – as “utterly shocking.”
The politician, who represents the Mid Scotland and Fife region was reacting to the alarming figures which also show there were 270 instances of verbal assault on local authority staff during this time.
The highest number of physical and verbal assaults was on staff working in the council’s education and children’s services department.
The details were obtained by the Scottish Conservatives through a Freedom of Information request.
Commenting, Liz Smith said: “The extremely high number of physical assaults on Perth and Kinross Council staff is utterly shocking. I am very concerned to hear that there were 2,517 physical assaults in three years – this total really beggars’ belief.
“The number of assaults fell during the pandemic, as you would expect, but there were still 355 physical attacks and 22 incidents of verbal abuse directed at employees working in the education and children’s services department during this time.”
Liz Smith continued: “Local authority frontline staff should not be subjected to any physical or verbal assault. They are carrying out their job and trying to help the public. They don’t deserve to be treated in this way.
“I’m sure there will many local residents who will share my disgust on hearing of these assaults on council staff. It is truly appalling behaviour.”
