London ambulance deploys tech to protect staff

London Ambulance Service is rolling out body-worn video cameras with the aim of protecting its paramedics from violence. The cameras are being provided by Motorola Solutions.

According to figures released by the service, 529 incidents of violence towards staff have been reported between April 2020 and January of this year.

Speaking of the roll-out, a spokesperson for Motorola said: “The VB400 body camera records incidents when patients or members of the public become aggressive or abusive. The footage will allow for ‘independent witness’ evidence, providing transparency and accountability for the public and ambulance crews.”

Chief executive officer at London Ambulance Service, Garrett Emmerson, said: “The health, safety and wellbeing of our crews are of utmost importance. We want to take every precaution possible to ensure that our frontline people are safe whilst at work. We are confident that video security will deter abusive and threatening behaviour, and improve the safety and confidence of our emergency medical crews.”

According to Motorola, the cameras will be used in conjunction with its back-office evidence management software "to securely manage and process captured video footage."