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Drunks face ban for abuse of paramedics
Drinkers could be banned from pubs if they attack paramedics under new plans to protect emergency workers.
The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has teamed up with Lancashire police and bars in Pubwatch schemes for the Stop Abuse campaign.
Ambulance staff are to report verbal and physical abuse so action can be taken.
More than 230 ambulance staff were assaulted across the North West last year.
John Burnside, chief executive of the Ambulance Service, said: "The project is designed to offer support to ambulance staff giving them the confidence to report incidents when they occur.
"It will advise members of the public that there will be consequences to those who assault ambulance staff.
"It also sends a strong message to offenders that if you verbally abuse or physically assault a North West Ambulance Service staff in a licensed premises, you may receive a banning order."
Chief Insp Phil Coope of Lancashire Police said: "It is true that violence and aggression towards ambulance staff will not stop overnight.
"But what we can do is make sure measures are in place to deter such acts."
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
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