INDIVIDUALS who assault or attack emergency workers face longer jail terms as a new law came into force this week.

A new offence will double the maximum sentence from 6 to 12 months in prison for assaulting an emergency worker. This covers police, prison officers, custody officers, fire service personnel, search and rescue services and paramedics.

The new law will also mean that judges must consider tougher sentences for a range of other offences - including GBH and sexual assault - if the victim is an emergency worker.

Through cross-party work, local MP Stephen Crabb has helped this Bill become law, he said: “No police officer, nurse or firefighter deserves to be assaulted – physically or verbally.

"Punishments for assaults on emergency workers have been far too lenient. Through cross-party work, I’m happy that a new law has come into force today to change this.

“I was pleased to work with Labour MP Chris Bryant and others as a co-sponsor of this law. It shows the good that can come from politicians, on both sides of the House, working together to improve the lives of others. This is why we get into politics in the first place.

Recent years have seen an increase in assaults on emergency workers, with 26,000 assaults on police officers in the past year and over 17,000 on NHS staff.

Assaults on prison officers rose by 70per cent in the three years to 2017, while there has been an 18per cent increase experienced by firefighters in the past two years.

There is already a specific offence for assaulting a police officer, but for the first time similar protection will be extended to anyone carrying out the work of an emergency service.

The law also provides extra protection to unpaid volunteers who support the delivery of emergency services.

Justice Minister Rory Stewart said: “Assaulting prison officers or any emergency worker is not just an isolated attack – it represents violence against the public as a whole.

“Every day these public servants do extraordinary work on our behalf, and they must be able to do it without the fear of being assaulted.

“Our message is clear – we will protect our emergency services and violence towards them will not be tolerated.”