Loads of people are faced with the threat of violence in the course of their work. It never bothered me. In the course of work I have been stabbed three times, poisoned twice, run over three times, had 12 cars driven into, piss, ****, dogs, cats and even children thrown at me. In one month we worked out that I had called Police 16 times out of the 23 days worked and needed to go to hospital twice. Every time it kicked off, I would blame myself for getting into a situation that turned.
In 20 years I saw violence go from being a rare thing to virtually the norm. Yet it never once stopped me from knocking on a door or doing my job. I probably prevented dozens of attacks, by simple body language and presence techniques.
I was once locked in a 3rd floor flat, with a lad who became violent. I had made the mistake of going past him into the living room and he locked the only door, picked up what he called "his stick" and his violence exploded. The rage came from nowhere and it took me completely by surprise. I got as close to him as possible and as I remember it we sort of danced around the room, but he was smashing the furniture not me. I got to the door into the hallway and into the kitchen, with him going berserk. I managed three 9's whilst holding the door shut. Before I knew it the Police were in the flat and he was restrained. A neighbour had called them just after I went in. The whole thing had lasted less than ten minutes. I didn't have a scratch on me. I went to the Police Station and was told that he had been sectioned twice recently, but was not considered a threat. He hadn't taken his meds for a few days and that had contributed to the situation. He had told Police that I was one of the secret society who wanted to experiment on his body.
You see, its not his fault, he was/is ill, how can or could I be angry? I was just glad of two things, first that I go out ok and secondly that it was me and not someone less capable.
The work casual is doing, involves a certain amount of risk, but it has to be measured by two things, its reward in terms of money and its service to society.