St John operations manager Andy Everiss said the tyres being slashed resulted in a delayed response to a potentially life-threatening incident. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Police are searching for a group of people who slashed the tyres of ambulances - delaying a response to a potentially life-threatening incident - in South Auckland this weekend.
They said the offenders broke into a gated yard at Hato Hone St John's Manukau Station on Saturday night, puncturing five tyres across three ambulances.
"These are destructive actions, and consequences of actions such as this can put people's lives at risk," Senior Sergeant Roelof Burger said.
"As the vehicles are inoperable for a period of time, this impacts St John's ability to respond to those who are in need of medical attention within our community."
St John operations manager Andy Everiss said the tyres being slashed resulted in a delayed response to a potentially life-threatening incident, as the damage was only discovered at the point of dispatch.
Everiss said staff had also reported verbal abuse, objects such as coffee being thrown at ambulance staff, and threats of serious harm - including one involving a sharp weapon.
"While we are relieved that none of our people sustained any physical injuries, we acknowledge these incidents can have an emotional and psychological impact not only on our staff but their whānau and friends. Hato Hone St John offers a range of support to our people, including leadership follow-up, peer support, stand-down periods and confidential counselling and wellbeing services.
"Hato Hone St John has zero tolerance for violence and aggression towards our people and our vehicles; this behaviour is completely unacceptable. Our ambulance staff are highly trained professionals who dedicate themselves to helping others by delivering essential, lifesaving care, and they deserve to be respected and to return home safely after every shift.
"If our ambulance staff are feeling unsafe, we fully support them to leave the scene."
St John will be making a submission on the Crimes Amendment Bill to the Justice Committee next week.
Everiss said he was hopeful it would act as a deterrent to such behaviour.
Police are seeking CCTV or dashcam footage from the nearby Plunket Avenue and Wiri Station Road to help identify the people responsible.
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