NEW figures show nearly 100 Kirklees Council staff were attacked this year.
Surprisingly the figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that many of the victims were working as carers.
In one case a client bit a worker on the arm as she tried to help her back into her chair.
And another service-user put a council worker in a headlock before kissing her on the lips and stroking her bottom. While another client hit their carer with a walking stick.
Overall, 57 council employees were physically assaulted in 2011, while 36 were the victim of verbal abuse.
Other examples in the catalogue of abuse include a council worker who was hit over the head with a pool cue so hard that the cue broke.
In another incident, a male motorist squeezed the hand of a female parking warden to stop her putting a ticket on his car. She was then hit in the face.
One council employee was verbally abused by gypsies, while trying to stop them moving on to a sports pitch.
A Kirklees Council spokesman said yesterday that council staff often faced abuse in the line of duty.
“Depending on the work they do, many council workers around the country face difficult situations with the potential to involve a level of violence or abuse,” he said.
“Kirklees is no different and, while the number is not out of line with other authorities, incidents do occasionally escalate.
“It’s important to stress that some reported incidents, especially those involving care staff, are related to the medical conditions of people receiving a service.
“At the same time, we are clear that violent or abusive behaviour towards staff is not acceptable. We work hard to provide a safe and healthy working environment for our employees.”
The number of physical attacks against Kirklees staff rose from 63 in 2009 to 76 the following year before dropping to 57 in 2011.
Victims included carers, managers and home support workers. Some 36 of the 57 victims this year were support officers.
Kirklees staff also endured 33 verbal attacks in 2009, 43 in 2010 and 36 this year.
