Anger over firefighter attacks

VANDALS ARE endangering the lives of the emergency services and members of the public by attacking firefighters, it has been claimed.

Figures published today reveal there have been more than 700 incidents of vandalism carried out against fire and rescue and police services across Scotland in the last two years.

Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been inflicted by vandals pelting firefighters with missiles and “tagging” buildings with graffiti.

The statistics, uncovered by the Scottish Liberal Democrats using Freedom of Information legislation, show there were five instances of missiles being thrown at Fife Fire and Rescue appliances in 2012 and 2011.

Previous figures show there were four incidents of missiles being thrown at Tayside firefighters in 2011/12.

Fife Fire and Rescue’s area safety manager for community safety, Colin Grieve, said the effects of an attack can stay with firefighters.

He said: “If you are driving an appliance or operating a piece of machinery and you are hit by a missile and rendered incapable, even just for a minute, it can have adverse effects and be dangerous to them and members of the public they are trying to help.”

Jim Malone, of the Fire Brigades Union Scotland, said: “A fire engine comes in at half a million once it is all kitted out and if one gets damaged we are sometimes having to fly maintenance people in from Finland.”

All the representatives said attacks on firefighters had reduced in recent years.

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP said: “It is shameful that a minority of people are letting down our communities with their selfish acts of vandalism upon police and fire equipment.”

The last two years has seen 50 incidents of Tayside Police property being vandalised, the majority vehicles. In Fife the number was 28, with police stations, vans and cells all targeted.