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18 April 2005 - FBU Research on Growing
Number of Violent Attacks
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The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) have released a research report on
the growing number of violent attacks being experienced by fire-fighters whilst
attending calls and are calling for a national strategy to halt the risks to
fire-fighters.
A study was conducted by the Labour Research Department (LRD)
and showed that a number of incidents had occurred where stones, bricks,
bottles, concrete blocks and even scaffolding poles had been hurled at
fire-fighters whilst engaged in their duties.
Mr. Andy Gilchrist, General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union
stated:
"The number and ferocity of attacks appears to be getting
worse. A young boy died in Scotland during one attack and it is only a question
of time before a fire-fighter is killed.
"The causes appear complex and we need more than knee-jerk
reaction headlines calling for crackdowns. There is no quick-fix
solution but we need to start with a properly resourced, national strategy."
Some brigades report all incidents of attacks whilst out on
duties, but others have no detailed data recorded, prompting the LRD to
highlight the need for standardisation, in order to compile more accurate
figures.
Some statistics of attacks to fire-fighters are as follows:
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In 18 of 50 brigades in England and Wales, 393 attacks were
reported in the nine months to February.
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When the statistics are extrapolated to cover all brigades over
12 months, they suggest more than 1,200 attacks.
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Official figures from Northern Ireland show 1,200 attacks in
three years.
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In Scotland, 388 incidents were recorded in 2004.
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The research uncovered reports of attacks in the Welsh valleys,
small Scottish towns and Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Further information can be accessed from the FBU website by
clicking the following:
Fire Brigade Union Website
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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