Action Needs To Be Taken To Stop Firefighter Being Assaulted While Trying To Save Lives
Firefighters risk being assaulted by the general public. The worrying figures of the number of firefighters being assaulted is shocking.
This year Humberside Fire and Rescue has seen a worrying trend in the number of firefighters who have been assaulted. In the past five years, 24 firefighters have been assaulted by members of the public.
Firefighters are the unsung heroes who risk their lives daily to protect our communities. However, a concerning trend has emerged in recent years where firefighters are being assaulted. This is not just happening in North Lincolnshire but also around the UK.
When a firefighter goes to work, they know the risk involved when fighting a fire. What they don’t expect is to be subjected to verbal and physical abuse, harassment, and even objects being thrown at them. Sadly, this is what is happening in Northern Lincolnshire and around the UK.
According to data obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), firefighters in northern Lincolnshire have been assaulted by members of the public 24 times in the last five years.
The assaults reported by the fire service include various forms of abuse and aggression, leaving firefighters vulnerable and demoralized. Shockingly, the number of reported assaults in 2023 has already surpassed the previous years, reaching a record high.
A firefight who has been with Humberside Fire & Rescue for more than five years told In2Town Today News that he does not understand why he and his colleagues receive such abuse.
The Humberside firefighter who did not wished to be named said: “We are here to help save lives. Not only do we have to put up with false emergency call outs, but we also receive abuse from some members of the public.
He went on to say that as a firefighter you understand you could get hurt on a call out, but you don’t expect to be hurt by the members of the public. It is not just firefighters who are assaulted, paramedics are also assaulted on a regular basis.
Key Statistics:
In the last five years, there have been a total of 20 reported assaults on firefighters in North East Lincolnshire, with 13 occurring in Grimsby and four in North Lincolnshire.
The Peaks Lane fire crews in Grimsby have faced the highest number of assault incidents, with a staggering 16 separate occurrences.
The severity of the assaults varied, with some incidents involving only verbal abuse, while others included physical attacks and objects being thrown at firefighters.
Male firefighters have predominantly reported the assaults, with only one reported incident involving a female firefighter in Laceby.
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has been working closely with partner agencies to address the rise in assaults on firefighters. Their collaborative efforts aim to curb anti-social behaviour and protect emergency workers from harm.
Three years ago, the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, along with Humberside Police and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, launched the “Don’t Cross the Line” campaign. The campaign’s objective was to raise awareness and reduce attacks on emergency workers.
While the campaign has shown some positive results, with a decrease in the number of attacks, any assault on firefighters is deemed unacceptable.
