TRAFFIC wardens in Herefordshire have been subjected to an alarming number of assaults in the last year.

The figures were revealed in a recently published freedom of information request to Herefordshire Council.

It was reported that there were 32 incidents involving traffic wardens, also known as civil enforcement officers, being assaulted by members of the public while carrying out council duties in Herefordshire.

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It was disclosed that 11 of these assaults involved physical violence and 21 were verbal assaults. The council’s response said that the verbal assaults involved shouting or swearing, threats of physical assault and harm, and hate speech.

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The request provided information on specific incidents, with some of the most disturbing including an individual repeatedly driving their vehicle into a traffic warden whilst being issued a parking ticket. Another serious incident involved a traffic warden being “shoved in the chest” while also attempting to issue a parking ticket.

Another warden was verbally abused and physically cornered in a car park after issuing a parking ticket, with a similar incident occurring when an individual attempted to “grab” a warden who was issuing a parking ticket.

Among some of the other offences against were aggressive behaviour and intimidation, intimidation and filming, and a warden being “shoulder barged”.