Number of attacks on West Midlands firefighters rises

In the last four years, a total of 309 firefighters in the West Midlands have been subjected to assaults.

From April 2015 to April 2016 there were 67 assaults – but this increased to 77 in just eight months, from April to December 2016.

Verbal assaults have dominated the findings, with a total of 50 attacks reported in April to December last year, an increase from 43 in the previous year.

• MORE: Ambulance worker attacked by patient he was trying to help

The throwing of missiles also topped the data, with 12 such attacks reported in those eight months, an increase of four on 2015/16.

Physical assaults were listed third in the figures, with five reported from April to December 2016, an increase from the one that took place in 2015/16.

There were also four instances of threatening behaviour reported, as well as three recorded cases of harassment.

A statement from the West Midlands Fire Service on the findings said: "Attacks can be verbal or physical, and might include hindrance or nuisance while firefighters are responding to and resolving incidents.

"When an attack is reported, it is referred to a station commander to consider and act on as needed – for example, by addressing issues through local work with police and other agencies."

"Any attack upon our firefighters is one too many, and will not be tolerated. Where appropriate, we will work closely with West Midlands Police to bring culprits to justice.

"All of our fire stations put great effort into building very strong links with their local communities, building trust and understanding upon which they can draw at incidents if necessary."

In 2013/14 there were 92 assaults , with 63 verbal assaults, 15 missiles, five instances of threatening behaviour, four instances of nuisance, three instances of physical contact, one injury and one assault involving a weapon.

The news comes as recent figures revealed which stations in the West Midlands were the busiest in 2015.

West Bromwich topped the call-out list with a total of 1,172 calls in the whole of 2015.

The station was closely followed by Fallings Park in Wolverhampton with 1,072 and Wolverhampton with 888.

The stations with the fewest call-outs were Wednesbury with 119 calls, Tettenhall with 136 and Aldridge with 283.

Out of the 1,172 call-outs for the 24-hour fire crews from West Bromwich, 204 were equipment false alarms, 129 were for good intent and 11 were malicious false alarms.

A total of 529 call-outs were for outdoor fires, while 80 were for road traffic incidents, 98 were for rescues and 118 were for property fires.