Firefighter attacks at more than one a week

AT Least one firefighter out saving lives is attacked in London every single week, shocking statistics reveal.

Attacks on on-duty firefighters in the capital are at their highest level for five years, with 75 incidents recorded in 2016/17.

The latest figures show firefighters are suffering the highest number of attacks since 77 were recorded in 2011/12.

The most common type of attack was verbal abuse, with 48 incidents in 2016/17, the highest number of incidents since at least 2010/11.

There were also 10 incidents of objects being thrown at firefighters or appliances, four of harassment, three of physical abuse and 10 other acts of aggression. One firefighter was seriously injured due to an object being thrown in the same time period.

A firefighter was injured after a firework was thrown during a Bonfire Night call-out this year.

The number of incidents had dropped in the years in between, with a low of 46 incidents recorded in 2014/15, with 62 recorded in 2015/16.

Dave Green, national officer of the FBU and a former firefighter, said: “Violent attacks on firefighters are opportunistic and thankfully rare.

“The vast majority of attacks are not serious, and they are usually borne out of a lack of education and a lack of understanding of the neutrality of the firefighter role.”