Firefighters face violence and abuse

Firefighters across the country are regularly exposed to violence and verbal abuse according to a report published last month by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU).

The report by the Labour Research Department, found official statistics putting the number of attacks at about 2,000 a year. However, the FBU and the brigades contacted during the research acknowledge that there is a serious problem of under-reporting.

FBU general secretary Andy Gilchrist said: "The number and ferocity of the attacks appears to be getting worse. A young boy died in Scotland during one attack and it is only a question of time before a firefighter is killed." He added: "These attacks are inexcusable and must not be tolerated. It can never be part of anyone's job to get a brick or bottle in the head or to be spat at."