Hartlepool Council staff have faced an ‘unprecedented rise’ in violence and aggression towards them in recent years, according to new figures.

A report to go before Hartlepool Borough Council Finance and Policy Committee next week states there has been an increase in the level of violence and aggression towards staff, both verbal and physical.

Statistics from the safety incident reporting form process states there were 193 reports of violence and aggression towards staff in 2018/19, more than four times higher than the 46 incidents in 2015/16.

There were also 100 reports in 2016/17 and 80 in 2017/18.

To date in 2019/20 there have been 166 reports of violence and aggression towards staff, with the projected year end figure currently 222.

The reports of violence and aggression are towards staff of every department of the council: refuse crews, enforcement officers, contact centre officers, social workers, to name a few.

Types of violence and aggression are also varied including shouting, swearing, screaming, spitting, threatening violence, punching, pushing and intimidating behaviour.

The report, from council assistant director for corporate services Claire McLaren, states the level of violence is unacceptable and steps are being put in place to crackdown on it.

This includes plans to launch a ‘Respect: Everyone Deserves it’ campaign.

She said: “The level of violence and aggression towards staff cannot be tolerated any longer. It is important that the council is proactive in reducing the level of violence and aggression towards staff.

“In August 2019, the Chief Executive issued a clear communication to staff demonstrating CMT’s (corporate management team) commitment to improving staff safety.

“This very clearly set out that Hartlepool Borough Council were adopting a ‘zero tolerance’ approach towards dealing with violence and aggression towards employees.”

The respect campaign is to be launched next month and messages will be displayed at key council buildings and on social media.

Training will be given to staff on de-escalation and diffusion techniques, and where appropriate additional CCTV and security guards will be used.

Reporting tools and techniques will also be improved and a clear policy statement on what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour produced.

The report states a staff safety forum has already been set up, and a series of task and finish groups established to guide the work.

A workforce health survey carried out in November by the council said 30 per cent of those who completed it had experienced aggression on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, with 27 per cent having experienced ‘conflict’.

The increase is in line with national trends which sees public sector workers facing more violence and aggression towards them.

The report on the subject is to go before Hartlepool Borough Council Finance and Policy Committee on Monday, February 10, at the Civic Centre from 10am.