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| 'Plague' of attacks on fire crews | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Attacks on firefighters in Wales rose last year and the true figure could be many times higher, it has been claimed. | |
| The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said official figures recorded 66 attacks, up from 56 the year before. | |
| Crews were pelted with bricks, bottles and stones, and there were ambushes and booby traps. | |
| The FBU called the attacks a "plague on our society" and said other incidents of intimidation and threats were so frequent they were not being reported. | |
| "These attacks are a major cause of concern for firefighters in Wales," said Wales FBU regional secretary Grant Mayos. | "These attacks are a major cause of concern for firefighters in Wales," said Wales FBU regional secretary Grant Mayos. |
| "It is almost beyond belief that fire crews are attacked and abused while fighting fires and trying to save lives. | "It is almost beyond belief that fire crews are attacked and abused while fighting fires and trying to save lives. |
| Understanding why attacks happen is not to condone or accept them as part of the job, but to help us address the problem Grant Mayos, Fire Brigades Union | Understanding why attacks happen is not to condone or accept them as part of the job, but to help us address the problem Grant Mayos, Fire Brigades Union |
| "Yet in some areas attacking fire crews has become a recreational activity with very serious consequences. | "Yet in some areas attacking fire crews has become a recreational activity with very serious consequences. |
| According to the FBU, the number of attacks on firefighters in Scotland fell last year, which the union said could be attributed to national strategies put in place with support from the Scottish Government. | |
| The FBU gathered its information in an independent report conducted by the Labour Research Department. | |
| The union accused the government of neglecting the problem and called for a detailed strategy to reduce the attacks. | The union accused the government of neglecting the problem and called for a detailed strategy to reduce the attacks. |
| The report also found that some fire and rescue services have what the union said were well developed policies for tackling violence aimed at crews. | The report also found that some fire and rescue services have what the union said were well developed policies for tackling violence aimed at crews. |
| ATTACKS IN WALES: North Wales - rose from nine to 15Mid and West - from four to 12South Wales down from 43 to 39Source: Figures from 2005-2006 to 2006-2007. FBU/Freedom of Information Act | ATTACKS IN WALES: North Wales - rose from nine to 15Mid and West - from four to 12South Wales down from 43 to 39Source: Figures from 2005-2006 to 2006-2007. FBU/Freedom of Information Act |
| But the union said this was "patchy", and often fire crews who were assaulted and injured are treated in the same way as any other sickness absence. | |
| Mr Mayos added: "Frustration, boredom, alcohol and drug use can all fuel the problems of youngsters living in communities and on estates they feel are on the margins of society. | Mr Mayos added: "Frustration, boredom, alcohol and drug use can all fuel the problems of youngsters living in communities and on estates they feel are on the margins of society. |
| "The outcome can be recreational violence aimed at whatever represents the wider society these youngsters on these estates feel excluded from. | "The outcome can be recreational violence aimed at whatever represents the wider society these youngsters on these estates feel excluded from. |
| "The highest numbers of attacks are in areas characterised by poor housing, poverty and few or no facilities for young people. | "The highest numbers of attacks are in areas characterised by poor housing, poverty and few or no facilities for young people. |
| "Understanding why attacks happen is not to condone or accept them as part of the job, but to help us address the problem. | "Understanding why attacks happen is not to condone or accept them as part of the job, but to help us address the problem. |
| "Most fire authorities are struggling to deal with the problem and good practice does exist but it is patchy. " | "Most fire authorities are struggling to deal with the problem and good practice does exist but it is patchy. " |
| Mr Mayos said the union had called on Local Government Minister Brian Gibbons to "assist both financially and morally in the fight against this plague on our society". | Mr Mayos said the union had called on Local Government Minister Brian Gibbons to "assist both financially and morally in the fight against this plague on our society". |
| He said he was hoping the union could meet the assembly government to address the issue. | He said he was hoping the union could meet the assembly government to address the issue. |
| The union said a national strategy to address the issue should include conflict resolution training, public awareness campaigns and no further extension of CCTV on fire service vehicles until their effectiveness could be assessed. |