THUGS launched almost 1800 attacks on emergency service workers in Glasgow during the past year, shock new figures show.

The Evening Times can today reveal the toll of abuse that police officers, paramedics and firefighters are suffering across Greater Glasgow.

Police Scotland recorded 1797 physical assaults on emergency service workers from April 2014 to March 31 this year - about four a day.

This compares to 1794 incidents recorded the previous year.

Cops' representatives slammed the figures as "far too high" and called on more protection for police.

The vast majority of attacks are understood to have been carried out on beat officers.

Within Glasgow's city limits, 1694 emergency responders were attacked between April 2014 to March 31 this year.

Brian Docherty, chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, said: "The principal aim of the police is to protect the public.

"An attack on a police officer is an attack on society.

"To ensure the police can protect the public, the courts and other authorities need to protect the police."

All the figures were logged in the Greater Glasgow police division, which covers Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and East Dunbartonshire

Across the division, the detection rate for assaults of emergency workers is 97%, indicating that the majority of attacks take place upon arrest.

Throughout Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, the number of attacks on emergency staff has risen from 1794 in 2013/14.

The figures also show that 38 police officers, ambulance crews and fire crews, were attacked in East Renfrewshire in the past year.

From April 1 last year to March 31 this year, there were 65 incidents logged in East Dunbartonshire.

That has risen from 57 incidents during the previous year.

Assistant Chief Officer Dave Boyle, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service director of service delivery, said: "Our crews are tremendously valued by the vast majority of people in every community and we know the public would be outraged to hear of any attack on a firefighter working to save lives, prevent injuries and protect property.

"We work closely with the police to ensure those responsible are identified and held to account for their reckless and criminal actions, which could endanger the public by potentially compromising firefighters and resources that may be needed at an emergency.

"It is important to highlight the exceptional support we receive from the public throughout Scotland, who hold their firefighters in the highest regard and would join us in condemning any attack on emergency responders."

Mr Docherty has called for tasers to be kept in every patrol car following a spate of recent attacks.

Last month, a police officer was rushed to hospital after allegedly being attacked by a man in a seaside town.

A 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident in Largs.

And in April, PC Kevin Taylor was allegedly stabbed during an incident in Govan.

A 38-year-old man was later arrested.

Mr Docherty added: "The levels of assaults on police officers are far too high.

"Too often charges of assaulting the police are dropped or plea bargained away.

"The sentences passed are clearly not acting as a deterrent.

"Beyond that, we have to ensure that self-protection training and equipment are good quality and kept up to date.

"Over the years we have introduced improved handcuffs, batons and CS spray.

"Beyond that, we would like to see the wider deployment of tasers so that they are kept in every operational police vehicle.