A new law could mean mandatory jail time for anyone who assaults emergency services staff.

The Protection for First Responders and Prison Officers Bill is going through its first reading this week.

It is proposing a minimum sentence of six months jail for people who attack first responders.

St John CEO Peter Bradley told Mike Hosking that number's only getting worse, with more than 1200 attacks on paramedics so far this year.

"Staff can get sworn at, spat at and kicked making it difficult to do their jobs."

LISTEN ABOVE AS PETER BRADLEY SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING