A rise in abuse against staff at Wiltshire Council has sparked a new campaign – aimed at protecting its frontline workers and contractors.
No Excuse For Abuse will raise awareness of what the council says is a rising number of cases which happen while its staff are carrying out their duties across the county.
In more than 200 incidents, workers received verbal threats, physical aggression and other unacceptable behaviour aimed at those providing essential local services.
Wiltshire Council says those affected are not just staff in uniform, but people who live and work in the county, including neighbours, friends and family members committed to supporting their communities.
The abuse has impacted a wide range of departments, including waste collection teams and road maintenance contractors.
In all, 228 incidents have been reported in the past year, something that councillors want to stamp out.
Cllr Mel Jacob, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said: “Our staff and contractors work hard every day to support our communities. They deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.
“These are people who live and work in Wiltshire, who work hard and do their best to help our communities and make our county a great place to live.
“Abuse of any kind is never acceptable, and we will always take it seriously. We’re proud of our teams and committed to ensuring they can do their jobs safely.
“Together, we can create a more respectful and supportive community for everyone.”
The council is urging residents who witness abusive behaviour to report it by calling 0300 456 0100.
