Education sessions in Sunderland schools suggested to try and reduce deliberate fires and attacks on crews
Fire chiefs in Sunderland are hoping a series of education sessions in local schools will help reduce the number of attacks on Tyne and Wear Fire Service crews - and the number of deliberate blazes being set
Fire chiefs in Sunderland are hoping a series of education sessions in local schools will help reduce the number of attacks on Tyne and Wear Fire Service crews.
In a recent meeting of the Coalfield Area Committee, it was revealed how Fire Service bosses are collaborating with other organisations to try and reduce these incidents, including working with Northumbria police and going into schools to teach young people about the impact of anti-social behaviour caused fires and assaults on emergency workers.
Andrew Nelson, station manager at Farringdon Community Fire Station, told Wednesday’s meeting this has involved targeting Years 7 to 10 in particular.
He said: “Attacks on emergency services are on the increase across the Tyne and Wear service area.
“This year’s darker nights campaign had a school education programme focused on fire safety, antisocial behaviour and consequences of attacks on crews.
“Working with police to carry out joint education sessions with our local schools hopefully will go towards reducing the number of attacks on blue light responders and reduce ASB across the Coalfield area.”
He added in the Coalfield area there have been two attacks on firefighters in recent months, which is an improvement on last year’s figures.
Both of these incidents involved objects being thrown at crews in the Copt Hill ward.
Councillors at a recent Tyne and Wear Fire Authority policy and performance committee meeting hit out at the “absolutely horrendous” number of attacks on firefighters, as officers pledged to continue to do all they can on the issue.
Figures from April to the end of September this year showed there were 29 attacks on firefighters across Tyne and Wear, down on the 33 recorded during the period last year.
A further seven attacks were recorded over the Bonfire Night week from November 1-6, which was up from five the previous year.
Of the 29 incidents recorded from April to September, 22 involved objects being thrown at firefighters and/or appliances, six involved verbal abuse and one involved physical abuse.