Physical attacks by angry members of the public in London have continued to increase astronomically in London, local reports have indicated.
According to a report by MyLondon Magazine, last year abuse towards firefighters rose by 35 per cent, with incidents of punching, pushing and bottles being thrown at them. While most of the abuse was verbal, incidents of physical abuse were also recorded, with one leading to hospitalisation.
One female firefighter was punched in the face and had to go to the hospital to receive medical treatment and stitches. Another incident led to a firefighter being injured after bottles were thrown at a fire engine in Hackney, with police attending the scene.
“Abuse from the public rose by 35 per cent between 2022 and 2023. While four staff were physically assaulted last year, most of the abuse was verbal. Last week saw a resident screaming at firefighters because a road was blocked as part of the emergency response to an incident in Bow.
“Data from London Fire Brigade shows that there were 517 incidents of verbal and physical assault between 2019 and 2023 – an average of two per week. Between 2022 and 2023, yearly incidents rose from 96 to 130.
“The rise in the attacks has been condemned by senior figures in the London Fire Brigade,” MyLondon reports.
It quotes the Deputy Commissioner for Operational Preparedness and Response, Jonathan Smith as calling for an end to the abusive behaviour and saying the Brigade won’t hesitate to take action.
“Firefighters and Control officers dedicate their lives to saving and protecting people and the vast majority of Londoners would never do anything to deliberately make a tough job even harder.
“This increase in attacks is concerning. There is never any excuse to target an emergency service worker – either physically or verbally – and right-minded people will join us in condemning those who attack firefighters or our blue light workers in this way.
“We take any attack on our people seriously and managers provide full support to any colleagues affected, as well as access to our counselling and trauma team if needed.
“I want to remind Londoners that whenever they see us, or our emergency service partners, out and about – in what are often very difficult circumstances – please be kind and give them the support needed to do a professional job,” Smith appealed.
