Fire chief slams crew attackers

Eric Baxter • Published 25 May 2010 14:00

A FIRE chief warned today that lives are being put at risk by thugs attacking firefighters in Greenock.

Crews have been attacked three times in the last week in the Angus Road and Nairn Road area of Larkfield.

Today Strathclyde Fire and Rescue group commander Richie Duncan said that, to help protect crews, he is now sending an extra fire engine to Larkfield every time there is a fire there.

He said: "This means there is one less appliance available if another emergency arises - and that increases the risk to the lives of the rest of the public in Inverclyde."

Mr Duncan said the fire service works in partnership with the police and Inverclyde Council's community wardens.

He said: "We have a system called Operation Brightspark in which the wardens can be brought in quickly in such emergencies. We have a special code we can broadcast for urgent assistance if we are attacked.

"The wardens have access to CCTV on their vehicles and they also have their own 'body cameras' which can be used to film in the vicinity and hopefully identify individuals who are attacking us. The fire service ask for criminal proceedings to be pursued under the Emergency Workers Act."

The act makes it an offence to assault, obstruct or hinder emergency workers, and those assisting them, when they are responding to emergency situations.

The maximum penalty is 12 months in prison or a £10,000 fine or both.

Mr Duncan said: "All we are doing is trying to protect the public. Last week we had an appliance damaged when someone threw a brick at it. These attacks are becoming a very serious problem in Inverclyde.

"We would like to appeal for the public's help in identifying those responsible for the attacks. Larkfield is not such a big area - some people must know who is putting lives at risk."

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 25 May 10

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