HUNDREDS of council staff every year are being attacked by the public they are hired to serve - and school staff are among those most at risk.

Figures obtained by the Daily Echo reveal a shocking catalogue of physical assaults, harassment, abuse and threats on council employees.

And there was a shocking increase in violence in primary schools.

Bournemouth council leader Stephen MacLoughlin said: "It is totally unacceptable.

"We will press for the strongest penalties if we have evidence to suggest that public servants are attacked at work.

"Our frontline staff are working for the benefit of the whole community and we take assaults extremely seriously."

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that in Bournemouth in the last three years there were 570 physical assaults causing injury to council employees.

Over the last three years there were 456 incidents in classrooms and 103 in playgrounds.

There were 188 incidents in primary schools last year compared with 118 the year before and 80 the year before that - but the number of incidents in secondary schools was dramatically lower.

Violent attacks against Dorset County Council staff more than doubled from 431 in 2006 to 871 last year.

They resulted in a catalogue of injuries for council staff including fractures, bruises, cuts and 36 bites.

Some staff required hospital treatment. One employee need 42 days off work to recover from a fracture sustained after an attack at a school. It was one of 121 school incidents.

One employee in 2006 needed 57 days off after an attack in an office.

The county council's head of human resources, Rowland Hartle said: "We encourage the full reporting of all incidents. All reported cases, however minor, are properly investigated so that lessons can be learned and remedial measures taken where necessary."

Staff employed by the Borough of Poole are also at risk from attack. There were 465 incidents last year, 453 the year before and 511 the year before.

Principal officer for health and safety at the council Matthew Blythe said: "Abuse and violence towards employees is unacceptable and Borough of Poole takes all threats to the safety of its staff very seriously.

"The council is committed to reducing this risk and has a robust policy for dealing with violent or threatening behaviour.

"All council staff are encouraged to report any incidents of abuse and violence and, where appropriate, training is offered to help reduce the risk."

Poole bin men have received training in handling conflict after incidents of abuse from members of the public.