Posted on 02/13/2008 9:23:26 AM PST by marthemaria
Attacks on firefighters rising, says union
Firefighters are being subjected to an increasing number of violent attacks despite Government claims to the contrary, new figures show.
The FBU wants better protection for fire crews Crews are regularly being spat on and pelted with bricks, bottles, burning wood and stones as they try to save lives across England and Wales.
The Fire Brigades Union has revealed that assaults increased by 15 per cent last year, although government statistics show a fall of 68 per cent.
Figures obtained by the union under the Freedom of Information Act reveal the number of attacks increased from 1,300 in 2006 to 1,500 in 2007, while official data showed a drop from 1,300 to 400.
The union's report, Easy Targets?, revealed a catalogue of serious assaults.
It claims about 40 attacks occur every week, ranging from stabbings and shootings to ambushes where firefighters are pelted with bottles or bricks.
In one incident, an entire crew was taken to hospital after a gang armed with sticks and scaffolding poles attacked them.
advertisement FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: "In some areas, attacking fire crews has become a recreational activity with very serious consequences.
"It is almost beyond belief that this can happen while they try to save lives. It cannot be part of anyone's job to face abuse, threats or attacks."
He said the problem was being addressed more effectively in Scotland, Northern Ireland and increasingly in Wales.
The FBU is calling for fire crews to receive training on dealing with violent attacks, and for more money to be invested in decent protection and catching attackers.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Local Government and Communities said the report had not been studied in full, but it would be happy to hold talks on tackling the problem.
She added: "This is an important issue and one the Government takes very seriously. It is unacceptable that firefighters should have to facesuch behaviour."
Something’s missing from this article, that’s for sure. What kind of an a-hole attacks firefighters while they’re trying to save lives and property?
I smell the Religion of Peace.
It’s Yobs without jobs, and no one to rob, so they lob cobs cuz they’re a mob,,,,,
That line suggests Muslims, since there aren't so many in those places.
Having said that, this pattern of immigrant yoots making firefighters' and policemen's lives untenable in Islamic neighborhoods occurs in Holland, Sweden and France too, so that may be a big part of the story here too.
Nah, looters.
Diversity, thy name is failure.
The head of the Fire Brigades Union says, “The highest numbers of attacks are in areas characterised by poor housing, poverty and few or no facilities for young people.”
Are you related to another doctor, Dr. Seuss maybe?
Actually, and I’m not defending the Religion of Peace here, but these attacks are 99.9% committed by young white-trash-hoodie-yobbos aged between 12-21. I’ve been over here for nearly 4 yrs. and in that time have heard over and over again about attacks on fire and rescue, and that 1/2 the time they’re “lured” into arson fires set purposely just so they can be attacked! I turn my head like a curious dog and ask “WHY”? I came over here from New Orleans, have lived in NYC and Houston and was raised in Northern Virginia just outside D.C. I have never heard of this “phenonmenon” in the U.S., it seems to be unique to a certain group of idiots in the U.K., and I will never understand it. Of course if one of these pieces of trash gets injured or killed while on their destructive rampage, they’ll have their lives saved by these great people and then their dole-sucking useless parents will sue. Sorry for the rant, but it absolutely disgusts me!
Good God! Well, thanks for the rant, it was informative.
A city cannot survive this level of stupidity long. Fires are apolitical. They just grow and grow if not stopped in time.
The only possible solution will not be implemented: Armed escorts with shoot to kill orders for anyone attacking firefighters. That’s what it will take. Like I said, won’t happen though — until a BIG fire gets REALLY out of control and dozens, hundreds, or more die. Then we will see yet another massive backlash against the yobs.
Seems like an awful lot of those are building up these days, doesn’t it?
Ah, yes, but let cosmic justice be done tho the heavens may crumble! (/sarcasm)
This has been happening in American big cities for decades even without Muslim participation.
Its an urban entertainment.
The engines we have would require some advance planning. You’d have to have two hose lays connected. One on each side. The truck has to be stopped and the pto engaged to drive the pump. On ours that means fifth gear and the pto activated. It would be difficult to do if you were swarmed as soon as you came on scene. Unless you’re really hefty, that means two each on a hose plus one to man the engine. It’s not impossible but I wouldn’t want to do it with incoming bricks.
Please, the correct term is now "NEET."
"Yob" is so demeaning to lazy young punks.
What does NEET mean? I thought it was smelly lotion to remove my leg hair! Please inform this lost Yank in Britain...
What does NEET mean? I thought it was smelly lotion to remove my leg hair! Please inform this lost Yank in Britain...
NEET: not involved in education, employment or training.
I just hope Ireland hasn’t fallen to the PC crowd yet. Not neat that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.