Appeal to end abuse of London Fire Brigade staff

Firefighters and control room officers in London reported a 35% increase in incidents last year

London Fire Brigade’s deputy commissioner has called for an end to physical and verbal abuse against his staff after new figures showed a rise in incidents.

Firefighters and control room officers in London reported a 35% increase in incidents last year compared to 2022. While the majority were due to verbal abuse, four staff were physically assaulted, including a female firefighter who required treatment in hospital and stitches after being punched in the face.

New data from London Fire Brigade shows there were more than 517 reports of physical and verbal abuse against staff from 2019 to 2023 – an average of two incidents a week. This includes objects being thrown at vehicles and other acts of aggression.

Last year alone, a total of 130 incidents were reported. One of the incidents saw firefighters respond to a 999 call on Ridley Road in Hackney. Bottles were thrown at a fire truck and a firefighter was injured. Police were called to the scene.

In another incident this year, firefighters were verbally abused when parked outside a property. A firefighter was pushed and fell on top of a colleague resulting in an injury to his helmet.

More recently verbal abuse has been on the rise, last week a resident shouted at firefighters as a road was blocked off as part of the emergency response to an incident in Bow.

Jonathan Smith, deputy commissioner for operational preparedness and response, said the numbers were shocking and any attack on an emergency worker was abhorrent.

He called for an end to abusive behavior against fire service personnel and their blue light colleagues. He said the brigade will not hesitate to take action and will do everything possible to support the police to lay criminal charges against the perpetrators.

Smith explained: “Firefighters and control officers dedicate their lives to saving and protecting people and the vast majority of Londoners would never do anything to deliberately make a tough job harder.

“This increase in attacks is worrying. There is never any excuse to target an emergency service worker – whether physically or verbally – and right-minded people will join us in condemning those who attack our firefighters or blue light workers in this way.

“We take any attack on our people seriously and managers offer full support to any colleagues affected, as well as access to our counseling and trauma team if needed.

“I want to remind Londoners that whenever they see us or our emergency service partners out and about – often in very difficult circumstances – please be kind and give them the support they need to do a job professional.”

Under the Assaults on Emergency Workers Act 2018, the brigade works with the Met Police to actively pursue convictions following assaults on any staff.

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