Rise in staff abuse incidents reported by fire services

Fire services across the UK are calling for an end to physical and verbal abuse against their staff, following an increase in such incidents.

The London Fire Brigade has recorded a 35% rise in reported abuse cases in 2023 compared to the previous year.

The majority of these incidents involved verbal abuse, but there were also physical assaults, with one female firefighter requiring hospital treatment after being punched.

From 2019 to 2023, there have been over 517 reported cases of physical and verbal assaults against London Fire Brigade staff, averaging two incidents per week.

The incidents included objects being thrown at vehicles and other aggressive acts.

In 2023 alone, 130 incidents were reported, including an event where bottles were thrown at a fire engine on Ridley Road in Hackney, resulting in an injury to a firefighter.

Deputy Commissioner for Operational Preparedness and Response, Jonathan Smith, expressed his shock at the figures, stating: “Any attack on an emergency worker is abhorrent.”

He emphasised the need to end abusive behaviour towards fire service staff and their blue light colleagues, ensuring that perpetrators face criminal charges.

Support for emergency workers in the face of abuse

The London Fire Brigade has been proactive in supporting its staff, providing full managerial support and access to counselling and trauma teams.

Deputy Commissioner Smith reminded the public to be kind and supportive to emergency workers, particularly during challenging times.

“Firefighters and Control officers dedicate their lives to saving and protecting people,” Smith said.

“The increase in attacks is concerning. There is never any excuse to target an emergency service worker – either physically or verbally.”

In Wales, emergency workers have also faced high levels of verbal abuse.

Between April 2019 and December 2023, there were 1,964 incidents of verbal abuse against Welsh emergency workers, with medical workers and police being the primary victims.

Abbie Williams, a Welsh Ambulance Service call taker supervisor, recounted a particularly distressing incident where a caller threatened to dismember her.

Impact of abuse on emergency workers

Abbie Williams detailed her experience during the Covid-19 pandemic: “The first abusive call I remember was in Covid-19 when the caller said he’d cut me up into pieces, even going into detail about which body part he’d start with and what tools he’d use to do it.”

Emma Worrall, a 999 call taker in Llangunnor, recalled how one man threatened to stab her after being told it might take 6-8 hours for an ambulance.

“One caller said he was going to stab me in the neck as I left work,” she said.

Jason Killens, Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, highlighted the severe impact of such abuse on call takers’ mental health and the delays it can cause in emergency responses.

He urged the public to be courteous and respectful to emergency staff.

“Call takers are the first person you interact with when you call 999 for an ambulance.

They play an important role in gathering vital information to arrange the best help quickly, but shouting, swearing and threats will only delay that help,” Killens said.

Anti-violence initiatives and legal repercussions

The Anti-Violence Collaborative Wales has reaffirmed its commitment to reducing and responding to incidents of violence and aggression against NHS staff and emergency workers.

Chief Inspector Andy Hayes of South Wales Police reiterated their comprehensive approach to dealing with such incidents, ensuring swift and coordinated responses.

“Our remarkable emergency service workers should not have to go to work and be assaulted or verbally abused.

“Unfortunately, there are occasions where this happens. Our comprehensive approach ensures we have a swift and coordinated response to incidents of violence and aggression,” Hayes said.

The UK Fire Services and their emergency service partners continue to work closely with the police to ensure that those who assault emergency workers face prosecution under the Assaults on Emergency Workers Act 2018.

The maximum custodial sentence for such offences was doubled in 2018 and increased further in 2022.