Wokingham: Council workers face more verbal abuse from public

Council staff who administer fines are thought to be particularly exposed to abuse

Reports of verbal abuse against staff at a council is on the rise, new figures have revealed.

More than 25% of health and safety incidents reported by Wokingham Borough Council workers since April last year have been logged as verbal abuse from members of the public.

Such abuse has risen over the past three years, the authority said.

It was suggested staff dealing with school admissions, housing or administering fines were most at risk.

Figures in the council's annual health and safety report showed 76 reports of verbal abuse between 2022 and 2023, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Trying to help'

The documents also stated "an increase over the last three years" - although it did not give the previous years' figures.

Rachel Bishop-Firth, who is responsible for council staff, said many employees worked in areas where there were "very difficult" and "emotive" issues at play.

"A lot of these incidents are verbal abuse - they happen within area such as school admissions, fines, housing provision," she added.

However, she noted that one reason for the recorded increase could be that the council had found incidents went "underreported" a number of years ago and encouraged staff to come forward.

Council leader Stephen Conway has appealed for the public to treat council staff with "respect".

"We should try and bear in mind that council employees are here doing their very best to serve the public... and recognise that they are trying to help," he said.

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