Workplace violence and aggression has never been part of the job, nor will it ever be. That is the clear message from UNISON City of Edinburgh branch to our employer as we launched our Zero Tolerance Towards Workplace Violence and Aggression Campaign.
At our national Health and Safety Seminar held in Stirling on the 10 October 2025, UNISON Scotland reported on the response from our annual Freedom of Information (FOI) request to all Scottish Local Authorities and other related public bodies. The results continue to show a large increase in incidents of violence and aggression towards public sector workers with a total of 75,411 recorded incidents of assault across Scotland in the last 12 months, up to March 31, 2025. UNISON believe that the correct figure is in the region of 100,000 incidents, as the under reporting of accidents, incidents, and near misses continue to rise on a yearly basis.
The headlines from our National Violence at Work 2025 Report include:
• The survey registered a total of 75,411 incidents of violence (206 per day) against public service staff in the year to 31 March 2025
• The total number of incidents was 15% higher than recorded in 2024, with an additional 9,536 incidents reported.
• Just over 6 in 10 of all incidents in our 2025 report (62%) involve violence against local authority staff.
• Health Boards account for almost a quarter of violent incidents reported (18,579 or 24%)
• Violent incidents against local authority staff rose by 17% (+6,943) in this year’s report.
• Schools, nurseries, and other education establishments continue to account for the majority of incidents that were reported in FOI data. • 8 of the 12 groups of public bodies responding to our FOI survey showed an increase in reported incidents from 2024.
Ian Mullen, branch health and safety officer, said, ‘our branch continues to engage with the employer about our serious concerns that verbal abuse and threats of violence against office-based staff are on the increase and this is not being reported or taken seriously. This includes abuse of a racial or sexual nature, which is completely unacceptable in today’s workplace or society.’
Members working in manual-based work have reported more incidents of aggressive behaviour by members of the public, who threaten or are abusive towards staff in an attempt to provoke a reaction, then threaten to expose them on social media.
The largest area of reported incidents remains within the education sector, where there is a recruitment and retention crisis, and we have seen no improvement in the reporting or reduction of incidents, debriefing, or support for staff following a violent or abusive incident involving pupils, parents, and/or guardians. Reducing assaults and verbal abuse of education staff must improve either by direct intervention by management team or Police Scotland.
Where there are serious or re-occurring incidents of verbal or physical threats of violence and aggression, including racial or sexual abuse, we will advise our members to report the incident to Police Scotland, obtain an incident number, and to contact the branch office for further advice and support.
In relation to the FOI, much of the data contained in the response, including equality and gender-based information was retracted from Edinburgh councils’ response, which leads us to believe that we have a poor recording system relating to threats or abuse towards different characteristics. When responding to UNISON Scotland, the employer did offer to provide the additional information if UNISON agreed to pay a substantial fee.
Disappointingly, copies of our Violence at Work Report 2025, were circulated to elected members following our national seminar. This included an invitation to meet UNISON, but we received no response from the politicians until the report reached the front page of several papers including the Edinburgh Evening News on Tuesday 18 November, when the council leader reluctantly responded.
Look out for our Zero Tolerance Towards Workplace Violence and Aggression Campaign stalls and pop-ups in various workplaces in the coming months. Thank you for your continued support.
That’s TV Lothian interviewed Katrina Baird, service conditions officer, about our branch’s Zero Tolerance Towards Workplace Violence and Aggression Campaign, calling on the employer to put more preventative measures in place to protect our members from violence and unacceptable behaviour in the workplace. You can watch Katrina’s interview here.
Additional Information:
City of Edinburgh Council Protecting Colleagues from Unacceptable Behaviour Policy:
UNISON:
End violence at work – UNISON National
Violence at Work – UNISON National
Sexual harassment guide October 2024
Violence at work report October 2024
Violence at work report October 2025
UNISON Scotland debriefing guidance
TUC:
Bullying, violence and harassment | TUC
Protecting workers from the risks of violence and racism | TUC
HSE:
How employers can protect workers from violence and aggression at work – Overview – HSE
Advice for workers on violence in the workplace – HSE