Attacks on Yorkshire firefighters will inform new law

A WEST Yorkshire MP’s first-hand experience of the attacks faced by firefighters during Bonfire Night weekend will help to inform new legislation designed to protect emergency service workers.

Halifax MP Holly Lynch, who led calls for the ‘Protecting the Protectors’ law, was among a number of MPs and councillors to join crews as they responded to 999 calls this weekend.

West Yorkshire Fire Service yesterday revealed that its crews came under sustained attack on 15 different jobs on Sunday night, with a total of 18 such incidents encountered over the weekend.

Police in riot gear had to be deployed in Leeds when youths blocked two roads with bins and other items which were set alight.

Officers and firefighters responding to the street fires in Harehills and Hyde Park also had lit fireworks thrown at them.

West Yorkshire’s deputy chief fire officer Dave Walton said: “We hope that by raising public awareness of these attacks we will see a public stance against attacks on firefighters and a change in legislation which will help safeguard our crews in the future.

“We very much appreciate the backing of our local MPs who have seen first-hand what we face and are appalled by it, as we expect the vast majority of people are. Our firefighters did not join the job for this.”

Police said a number of investigations were now under way into offences including criminal damage, arson and assault.

In South Yorkshire, a fire engine had to be taken out of service on Sunday night after objects were thrown at engines and crews as they responded to a fire set deliberately in Grimesthorpe.

No firefighters were injured, but the window of one of the engines was badly damaged.

Meanwhile, detectives believe an arson attack which left a 56-year-old man fighting for his life in hospital may be linked to a commercial-sized firework.

West Midlands Police yesterday said it wants to trace anyone who bought a multi-shot firework from a shop in or around the Tile Cross area of Birmingham.

The victim remains in an induced coma after a house fire, which police believe was started deliberately, at around 11pm on Thursday night.