The Scotsman

Bonfire Night warning on violence

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Fire chiefs have warned violence against crew members on Bonfire Night will not be tolerated after staff were targeted with missiles last year.

Assistant chief officer Lewis Ramsay hit out after firefighte­rs were subjected to abuse while carrying out their duties on 5 November, 2016.

In one case, a crew in Ayrshire was targeted twice within hours on what is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s busiest night of the year.

Mr Ramsay said: “It beggars belief when I hear that they have either been physically assaulted or verbally abused when trying to assist their communitie­s.” Firefighte­rs responded to 970 incidents on Bonfire Night last year, including 326 unofficial bonfires.

Mr Ramsay warned similar criminal action will be taken extremely seriously and vowed to work with police to ensure those responsibl­e are held to account.

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