Shocking data highlights extent of violence against firefighters

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Statistics published by the Home Office indicate that there were 96 injuries suffered from attacks during England-based operational incidents in 2023-2024. Not only does this represent a rise of more than 25% on the year before, but it’s also the highest figure recorded in any of the past 15 years and a 284% increase on the 25 cases noted in 2014-2015. According to the data, firefighters suffered 82 slight injuries and 14 serious injuries.

Legal Expert’s own collated information, which was gathered through Freedom of Information requests, highlights that the West Midlands Fire Service reported over 660 episodes of violent activity between April 2020 and November last year, with the data covering a period more than a year shorter than that of most other Fire and Rescue Services.

There were 449 cases of verbal abuse delivered at a rate above one every four days. Only three other Fire and Rescue Services across the UK reported more instances of physical or verbal attacks in six years than the 180 witnessed in the West Midlands region in 2023 alone.

Also returning a significant number of cases was the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. The North West’s largest Fire and Rescue Service endured 372 separate incidents between November 2019 and October 2024.

Assault reports

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service flagged 327 incidents across 2019-2023 and most of 2024. This includes 140 in the Newcastle area, with the Tyneside city recording more assault reports than all but three regions (excluding Tyne and Wear) in the entire country.

Kent (190), South Wales (139) and London (104) were also host to more than 100 incidents.

The same story wasn’t replicated everywhere, though. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service claimed to have had no incidents whatsoever, while other populous areas including Merseyside (five), West Yorkshire (seven) and Lancashire (12) returned relatively small figures.

Northern Ireland’s Fire and Rescue Service confirmed only ten cases to Legal Expert, stating that it was sharing details only of those incidents which led to crew members suffering injuries.

Insight into everyday threats

Multiple Fire and Rescue Services have witnessed members of staff missing significant amounts of time on duty as a direct result of attacks by members of the public. The London Fire Brigade lost 372 working days due to assault-related absence, 259 of which involved staff in Barnet. Staff in Northern Ireland were also significantly affected, with three injured crew members missing 103 days between them.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, which noted 56 incidents (including 17 physical assaults), provided summaries of its reports. Those summaries paint a picture of firefighters facing needless violence in many scenarios.

For example, an April 2022 case noted how the family member of a person individual who died in an incident attacked one firefighter, scratching the latter’s face before they “tried to run down” two more. In another incident, Tamworth Fire Station was informed that a first responder was struck on the ankle when a member of the public threw tiles from the roof of a building.

Further, Rugeley Fire Station received a report in 2020 of one shovel-wielding occupier refusing to let staff enter the property to tackle a fire in progress. Even training was not without risk, as one Fire Station reported two young people, including one carrying a knife, having confronted staff during a course.

Another report noted that, while staff were filming for Safe + Sound (a programme aimed at “educating children about safety in a fun and interactive way”), they were verbally abused and threatened by a member of the public.

As previously referenced, Fire and Rescue Services across the UK have shared reports of missiles being thrown at firefighters, with objects including bricks, stones, eggs and fireworks all being used. Hospitalisation has not been an uncommon factor of such assaults, as numerous Fire and Rescue Services have shared reports of at least one staff member needing medical attention because of an assault suffered while on duty.

Greater protection

Before leaving his role this month after two decades in post, and in responding to the data collected by Legal Expert, Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack called for greater protection for firefighters.

Wrack observed: “Firefighters must be able to respond to emergencies everywhere without fear of abuse or injury from attacks. It’s vital that Fire and Rescue Services retain and build trust with local communities, but community engagement projects have been cut, while firefighters are sent out with fewer resources and smaller crews.”

Further, Wrack stated: “Some Fire and Rescue Services are now overseen by Police and Crime Commissioners. This is a situation which jeopardises public perception of the Fire and Rescue Service as being independent and humanitarian. Ultimately, we need investment in the Fire and Rescue Service to reduce the risks firefighters face while they’re protecting others."

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