EALING’S frontline workers play a vital role in our everyday lives, whether it’s keeping our streets safe, helping us in a medical emergency or getting us to work.

Yet shockingly, my colleagues and I have uncovered figures which show that violence against people like nurses, cabbies, and receptionists is rife.

Across London, there have been 30,000 attacks on essential workers in just the last three years, working out to almost 200 violent incidents a week.

The research shows train and tube workers are dealing with drunken and racially-aggravated violence, while doctors and nurses in our A&Es are punched, kicked and spat at, and cabbies face guns, knives and even being run over by their own cars.

Affordable wearable technology, such as panic buttons and body cameras, will help bolster the security and protection of these essential workers.

They would act as visible deterrents for criminals, monitor the safety of staff and call for help in an emergency. Furthermore, video evidence from cameras would make it easier to report crimes, avoid disputes and shorten trials.

I believe the kit will eventually pay for itself. A one-year pilot of 100 wearable GPS panic button devices for staff that are mobile or who work alone would cost £33k in total, including all hardware and service plans.

A trial of 200 body-worn and vehicle cameras for frontline ambulance crews would cost an estimated £106,000 in total. Compare this to the huge financial burden of violence in the workplace – it costs TfL £2.2m and the London Ambulance £125k – just for one year.

We depend on frontline workers. They need to be treated with respect while doing their job.

ANDREW BOFF

Conservative, London Assembly Member