Worcestershire Firefighters Face Assaults in Troubling Hotspot Data
Recent data shows alarming violence against firefighters in Worcestershire, raising concerns about their safety on the job
Worcester, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Firefighters, Assaults
Worcester: A recent Freedom of Information request has shed light on a troubling trend. Between January 2019 and October 2024, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service reported 93 violent incidents against firefighters.
It’s pretty shocking to see that some firefighters in Worcester actually got hurt, while many faced verbal abuse. The fire service is taking this seriously and promises to act against anyone who gets aggressive.
Interestingly, Worcester was labeled a hotspot for firefighter assaults, with 20 incidents over five years. Evesham had seven cases, and overall, there were 66 incidents in Worcestershire and 25 in Herefordshire.
In fact, three of the five slight injuries reported happened just a week after Easter in 2023, all during one incident at the Worcester station. While only four were physical assaults, there were six cases where people threw things at firefighters.
The numbers have fluctuated over the years. After 20 reported cases in 2019, there were 13 in 2020 and 15 in 2021. In 2022, the service recorded 17 assaults, followed by 15 in 2023. Last year alone, firefighters faced attacks 13 times, marking six years of more than one attack a month on average.
A spokesperson for the fire service emphasized their commitment to tackling these incidents. They noted that most of the abuse is verbal, and thankfully, physical attacks are rare. It’s crucial for emergency services to work without fear of abuse.
Before stepping down in January, Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack called for better protection for firefighters. He stressed that they should be able to respond to emergencies without worrying about being attacked.