The more contact you have with the public, the greater the risk you face.
The 2014/15 Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) found that the most high-risk occupations are workers in protective service occupations. This group includes police officers, fire service officers, prison service officers and police community support officers (PCSOs). They faced nearly a 10% chance of being assaulted or threatened when at work, making them the most at risk group of workers – at 9.6% their risk is eight times the average of 1.2%.
Health care professionals and health and social care specialists had higher than average risk at 3.1% and 3.4% respectively and have consistently had higher than average risk rates over the last number of years.
Other professions with higher risk include transport and mobile machine drivers at 3.0%. The following professions have consistently had higher than average risk rates over the last number of years:
- security guards and the police services;
- nurses and other health professionals;
- careworkers;
- public transport workers;
- catering and hotel workers;
- benefits staff;
- teachers;
- shopworkers; and
- managers and personnel officers.
