Devon's ambulance workers are constantly being physically attacked by the people they're trying to help - and their union, the GMB, says not enough action's taken by police.
Across the south west there were nearly 300 attacks in the 12 months to the end of January this year.
Only one resulted in a prison sentence and the highest fine imposed was 440 pounds.
The GMB says ambulance workers are increasingly having to work alone and this makes them more vulnerable to attackers.
Meanwhile it's emerged that nearly 800 deliberate hoax calls were made to the South West's already overstretched ambulance service last year.
In April alone control room staff had their time wasted on hoax calls 91 times, when they could have been responding to real emergencies.
This doesn't include calls made in good faith which turn out to be unnecessary.
The service says deliberate false calls can put lives at risk - they can also result in six months in prison or a fine of up to five thousand pounds.
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