Campaign to tackle abuse towards highways workers in Cumbria

A CAMPAIGN is being launched to tackle increasing abuse towards highways workers in Cumbria.

It comes after a council meeting heard ‘troubling’ details of abuse towards workers repairing roads in the Cumberland Council area.

Cumberland councillor Mike Hawkins told members of Whitehaven Town Council that there had been a rise in workers being abused – and four have been injured.

He said the issue had been raised at a recent Cumberland Council meeting and slammed the behaviour as ‘unacceptable’.   

Speaking at a Whitehaven Town Council meeting held last week, Cllr Hawkins said: “We had feedback from highways – one of the things I found troubling, and the councillors on the panel found troubling, was the increase in abuse to road staff.

“Apparently there have been four members of staff injured this year which is unacceptable. We all get frustrated by road works and road closures but at the end of the day, these people are doing their jobs.

“Nobody goes to work to be abused, no matter what job you do. They are just doing their job. I was really shocked by that.

“In all my time as a councillor I have never had a report like that. Asking questions of the network manager, it’s on the increase. People think they can just abuse road staff.

“These people have families and are just doing their jobs. It really upset us at the meeting.”

Cumberland Council said it would soon be launching an anti-abuse campaign to raise awareness of the issue and encourage the public to treat highways workers with respect.

A spokesman for Cumberland Council said: “Cumberland Council takes the safety of staff very seriously. Abuse against road workers or any frontline employees is unacceptable.

“We will shortly be launching an anti-abuse campaign to raise public awareness, promote respect, and make clear that such behaviour will not be tolerated. Our staff are delivering essential services for the community, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”

 At a highways and transport strategic board meeting held earlier this year, Cumberland Council members were made aware of ‘challenging issues’ around the health and safety of officers due to abusive behaviour from members of the public.