Attacks on Firefighters down

Attacks on Strathclyde Firefighters have fallen for the third successive year.

There were 93 attacks on firefighters in 2009-2010 compared to 142 in 2008-2009. These figures compare to 151 in 2007-2008 and 171 in 2006-2007.

Between 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, attacks with weapons rose from 16 to 17, damage to fire appliances and equipment were down from 8 to 4, verbal abuse reduced from 110 to 65, attacks with missiles fell from 8 to 3, and last year there were four physical attacks by individuals on firefighters.

The figures are contained in the annual health and safety report  presented today to the Board of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.

The Board's Convener, Councillor Brian Wallace, said: "Yet again there has been a very welcome reduction in attacks on firefighters, but we leave no room for complacency. Firefighters have a difficult enough job protecting our communities without being confronted by people who commit dreadful acts of violence.

"I call on people throughout Strathclyde to pass on to the Police or Crimestoppers any information they may have about people who have attacked firefighters."

Supporting Councillor Wallace's comments, Brian Sweeney, Chief Officer of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, said: "I welcome the six month jail sentence that was handed out this week to a man who threw a bottle at firefighters from the window of a tower block in Motherwell. I hope this acts as a deterrent to others.

"Everything possible is being done to maintain this downward trend in attacks on firefighters. We were the first fire and rescue service in the United Kingdom to introduce 'spit kits' to identify people who carry out disgusting spitting attacks on firefighters and cctv cameras have been fitted to appliances.

"Strathclyde Fire & Rescue has a special agreement with Strathclyde Police to get support if our firefighters run the risk of attacks. We also work closely with the local councils to engage with young people through countless school visits and programmes such as Fire Reach."

Crimestoppers phone number: 0800 555 111