'No Go Areas' For Ambulances Up 300% In Fife

The number of addresses ambulance staff can't attend without police protection in Fife has tripled since 2015.

There are 153 'red-flagged' properties in the Kingdom, according to freedom of information information released today by the Scottish Conservatives. Three years ago that number was 53.

It's part of an overall rise in Scotland, with over 2800 'no-go' areas across the country.

They're singled out as being dangerous because of previous attacks and instances of violence.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said: "Front-line ambulance staff do an incredibly important job and they have the right to go about their normal duties without fear of being attacked.

"When someone is convicted of attacking a paramedic, the punishment should be severe enough to make it plainly clear that this will not be tolerated. At a time when budgets are constrained, we cannot afford to have ambulances waiting outside no-go addresses. This can also stop other crews from attending other life-threatening emergencies.

"It's not the first time Scottish Conservatives have raised this but having done so it is surely inexcusable for the SNP to have sat back and allowed the position to deteriorate further while continually boasting of its records on health and crime levels.

"Violence should not be tolerated and the SNP government need to be looking at cracking down on those who attack our front-line emergency workers."