The Ulster Unionist Party’s South Belfast MLA Michael McGimpsey has expressed his shock and sadness that local ambulance staff will be kitted out in police riot gear when called to disturbances.
Mr McGimpsey, who was himself a former Health Minister, said:
“The news that Northern Ireland’s paramedics are to wear full PSNI riot gear when called to disturbances is a sad indictment of where we are as a society.
“The Ambulance Service has for decades served all sections of this society, often at great personal risk and in the most horrendous of conditions.
“As Health Minister I promoted a policy of zero tolerance of violence against staff. If we have really reached the point where ambulance staff have to be kitted out in full riot gear then we as a society need to take stock and realise that this is not acceptable.
“We are trying to build a shared future and promote Northern Ireland as a place to invest in and to visit. The sight of paramedics dressed in riot protective clothing is certainly not one which we want to be sending out to the outside world.”