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Violence against firefighters not tolerated |
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All pumping appliances at wholetime fire stations in Staffordshire are to be fitted with CCTV to protect firefighters from violence and aggression. Four brand new appliances are already fitted with CCTV and will be fitted as standard to all new appliances that are purchased in the future. Twenty pumping appliances, currently on wholetime stations in the county, will have the technology installed in 2008. This retrofit will cost £125,000. Director of Safer Communities, Stuart Smith says: “Unfortunately there has been a steady increase in incidents involving threats and violence towards our firefighters and our research shows that those who work in urban areas are most at risk. We will not tolerate assaults on personnel and this CCTV will provide the police with valuable evidence for prosecution.” “The majority of the incidents in Staffordshire have involved verbal abuse and missiles being thrown at appliances, however there have been some physical assaults – a recent incident, nearNewcastle under Lyme involved an attack, which resulted in a firefighter receiving hospital treatment for a hand injury.” Stuart Smith continues: “We are also investing in training courses in dealing with hostility and aggression for our personnel to ensure that they are suitably prepared for incidents of this nature.”
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