The east London council is committed to making sure that it is providing a safe and respectful environment for all of its employees.
In the past year, there have been 113 incidents of verbal or physical abuse towards staff including:
- A Community Hub female officer verbally abused and sworn at by a man
- A Civil Enforcement Officer aggressively threatened and pushed into a busy road
- Another Civil Enforcement Officer had his helmet removed and was hit over the head with his radio.
Through a new campaign, the council is making residents aware that they’re continuing to take a firm approach to violence or aggression towards staff.
The council has the following measures in place to address and prevent abuse:
- Zero Tolerance Policy: Any incidents of abuse will be met with immediate action, including potential legal consequences
- Support Systems: Enhanced support and resources for staff who experience abuse, including counselling and legal assistance
- Public Awareness Campaign: Initiatives to educate the public on the importance of respecting council staff and the consequences of abusive behaviour.
Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “Nobody should go into work and be verbally or physically abused and it’s something we absolutely will not stand for. We’re committed to providing a safe working environment for our employees and any abuse will be treated extremely seriously.”
“We’re asking residents to treat our staff how they would like themselves or their family to be treated.”