Eight postcodes covering East Lothian areas have been deemed too dangerous for ambulance crews to attend without police back up, it has been revealed.

There are nearly 4,500 properties across Scotland which have been subjected to the Scottish Ambulance Service’s ‘red flag’ policy.

Because of previous violent incidents at each home or business, paramedics are not permitted to enter unless police officers are also present or a further risk assessment is carried out, even in the event of a medical emergency.

A Freedom of Information request by justice and social affairs publication 1919 Magazine has revealed that Edinburgh’s EH postcode, which also covers most of the Lothians, has the most red-flagged addresses with 1,122 properties on the list.

The East Lothian ‘outward’ postcodes with addresses on the ‘red flag’ list include EH21 (Musselburgh, Wallyford and Whitecraig, 28 warnings); EH32 (Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton, Longniddry and Aberlady, eight warnings); EH33 (Tranent, Elphinstone, Macmerry and Gladsmuir, 13 warnings); EH39 (North Berwick, Dirleton, Drem, Kingston, East Fortune and Athelstaneford, six warnings); EH41 (Haddington, Gifford, Garvald, Morham, Bolton and Whittingehame, 10 warnings); and EH42 (Dunbar, West Barns, Tyninghame, Whitekirk, Stenton, Spott and Innerwick, fewer than five warnings).

Also included is EH22, which mainly covers Dalkeith, in Midlothian, though a very small part of it is in East Lothian south of Whitecraig (25 warnings), and TD11, which is almost entirely in the Scottish Borders but includes a small section of the far east of the county (fewer than five warnings).

The following ‘outward’ postcodes in East Lothian had no warnings logged: EH31 (Gullane), EH34 (Pencaitland and East and West Saltoun), EH35 (Ormiston), EH36 (Humbie), EH40 (East Linton) and TD13 (mostly covering the Scottish Borders around Cockburnspath but also including Oldhamstocks).

Brian Jones, vice-chair of the Scottish Police Federation, said: “We fully understand why ambulance crews won’t go to places if they think they’re going to be attacked. But the police are the service of last resort – we have no choice in the matter.

“In the near future there will come a point when a decision will have to be made about what we can’t go to, because it will be physically impossible to go to everything.

“These incidents just show how society is changing – and it is just another thing which is placing a demand on resource policing when things are getting tighter.”

Kenny MacAskill, East Lothian’s MP, said: “It’s concerning as the safety of emergency workers must be paramount. It can also cause delays in attending and providing assistance to those in need.

“It puts more pressure on officers, who are already run ragged.

“There’s no easy answer but those who assault emergency staff need dealt with firmly and hopefully there’s a regular review to see if the situation has changed.”

Miles Briggs, Lothian MSP, said: “Paramedics have a hard enough job without being faced with the threat of violence.

“It’s depressing to see so many homes right across the country where it simply isn’t safe for an ambulance crew to go.

“These dangerous individuals have absolutely no respect for our brave emergency workers.

“What’s worse, their behaviour puts a strain not just on paramedics but on the police too, who have to be on the scene whenever they or someone in their home requires help.”