Big rise in number of attacks on Calderdale Council staff
There were almost 300 incidents of violence against staff working for the authority in 2024/25
Attacks on a council’s staff increased by almost 50 cases in 2024-25 compared to the previous year, councillors have been told.
According to figures presented to Calderdale Council Cabinet members, there were 292 instances of violence and aggression against staff last year, up from 244 the previous year.
Of these 124 were physical attacks, while 54 of the incidents were both physical and verbal, and 103 incidents were verbal only, councillors were told.
Eleven incidents were classed as “other”, which included race hate incidents – the breakdown shows five were racial abuse, three sexual and two homophobic, plus one “other”.
Most of the incidents were faced by staff in two council directorates, Children and Young People’s Services (141) and Public Services (110).
There were also 30 incidents affecting Adults Health and Wellbeing staff, seven relating to Regeneration and Strategy staff and four to staff in the Chief Executive’s Office, which includes Resources and Transformation staff, according to the report.
Incidences of violence against staff have increased in each of the last three years, following drops around the Covid period.
Cabinet member for Resources, Coun Silvia Dacre, presenting the council’s annual safety report, said: “I’d like to touch on the unfortunate fact that council staff are still seeing a rise in incidents of aggression and violence towards them.
“Quite rightly, Health and Safety officers provide practical support and guidance to staff on how to manage their safety.
“It’s extremely distressing that so much emphasis has to be placed on this, but it is crucial at a very basic level we keep our staff safe,” she said.
Coun Dacre (Lab, Todmorden) said programmes run for staff were a commitment by the council not only to keep its employees physically safe but also supporting their mental health and well-being.
Leader of the Council, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said the council takes safety of staff and public “very seriously”.