Firefighters are being given protection after being ambushed by gangs of yobs at least 50 times a week.
Crews have been issued with helmet-mounted CCTV cameras and DNA swab kits to identify those who attack and spit at them.
Thugs have assaulted firefighters with hammers, bricks and iron bars after deliberately setting alight rubbish or cars to provoke a 999 call.
In some areas the problem is so bad police have to accompany fire engines on emergency calls.
Advertisement
Union officials want a government crackdown following a surge in attacks this month which saw almost 200 incidents and several firefighters seriously injured.
Matt Wrack of the Fire Brigades Union said: "No one should face ambushes, booby traps, bricks and abuse when they go to work. All we're doing is trying to save lives and help people. It's got to stop before a firefighter is killed."
Last week in Wigan, yobs as young as 10 hurled stones and metal bars at firemen as they put out a blaze on wasteland.
Two teenagers were arrested in Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, two weeks ago for an alleged assault on firefighters. It was the 45th such incident in the area this year.
District fire service manager Ian Harrington said: "These attacks affect the services we provide by injuring staff or damaging equipment and, in turn, puts lives and property at risk."
Halifax Labour MP Linda Riordan has called for even tighter laws to protect firefighters and is backing union demands for those who obstruct crews to be charged under new regulations.
Local FBU official Kieran Armstrong said: "In parts of Halifax some youths try to make it a no-go area.
"They set things on fire and then we are verbally abused, threatened or they throw things."
Since the new Emergency Workers Act came into force 18 months ago, 392 people have been charged with assaulting staff on the job.
Source - www.dailymirror.co.uk
This is disgusting, my dad has been in the fire service for 27 years, after reading this i am glad he is retiring soon.
Crews have been issued with helmet-mounted CCTV cameras and DNA swab kits to identify those who attack and spit at them.
Thugs have assaulted firefighters with hammers, bricks and iron bars after deliberately setting alight rubbish or cars to provoke a 999 call.
In some areas the problem is so bad police have to accompany fire engines on emergency calls.
Advertisement
Union officials want a government crackdown following a surge in attacks this month which saw almost 200 incidents and several firefighters seriously injured.
Matt Wrack of the Fire Brigades Union said: "No one should face ambushes, booby traps, bricks and abuse when they go to work. All we're doing is trying to save lives and help people. It's got to stop before a firefighter is killed."
Last week in Wigan, yobs as young as 10 hurled stones and metal bars at firemen as they put out a blaze on wasteland.
Two teenagers were arrested in Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, two weeks ago for an alleged assault on firefighters. It was the 45th such incident in the area this year.
District fire service manager Ian Harrington said: "These attacks affect the services we provide by injuring staff or damaging equipment and, in turn, puts lives and property at risk."
Halifax Labour MP Linda Riordan has called for even tighter laws to protect firefighters and is backing union demands for those who obstruct crews to be charged under new regulations.
Local FBU official Kieran Armstrong said: "In parts of Halifax some youths try to make it a no-go area.
"They set things on fire and then we are verbally abused, threatened or they throw things."
Since the new Emergency Workers Act came into force 18 months ago, 392 people have been charged with assaulting staff on the job.
Source - www.dailymirror.co.uk
This is disgusting, my dad has been in the fire service for 27 years, after reading this i am glad he is retiring soon.
