Data collected by Legal Expert has revealed the extent of violence against firefighters in London as its fire service reported over 100 counts of aggression during operations–with more than a year’s worth of work missed by injured firefighters.
In response to a Freedom of Information request, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) shared details of 104 violent acts between January 2019 and September 2024.
These figures show that the service receives close to one report of an attack every three days, with more than five times more incidents in the first ten months of 2024 than in the entirety of 2019.
From five incidents in 2019, there were 13 in 2020, dropping to seven the year after.
There were 17 attacks in 2022, rising to 35 in 2023. This included three months–January, July and August–where there were more assaults than in the whole of 2019.
Accounting only for the period of January-October, there were 27 incidents in 2024, with at least one attack recorded in every month for the first time in the entire six-year period.
July was the worst month for attacks, with 15, followed by November (13, accounting only for 2019-2023) and January (12). Only one March attack was recorded across the six calendar years.
Over a year lost to injury
LFS staff lost a shocking 372 days of work as a direct result of assaults. This was in stark contrast to other fire services, many of which – including West Midlands Fire Service, where 666 attacks were recorded – saw zero staff absences caused by assaults.
Two firefighters were hospitalised because of an attack. In total, there were eight absences across five years, with 264 days of work lost in 2023 alone. There were 62, 22 and 20 days missed in 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively.
A comparatively low four days’ worth of absence in 2024 was attributed to assault on staff.
Staff in Barnet lost 259 days’ work in the five-year period because of attacks, while Tower Hamlets firefighters lost 66.
Camden (27 days), Southwark (11) and Croydon (nine) accounted for the other absences.
Hackney identified as assault hotspot
There were more attacks in Hackney than in any other borough, according to the LFS figures. Firefighters were subjected to 12 assaults, with Camden and Croydon (both 11) being regular sites of violence.
There were also more than five attacks in Southwark (eight), Tower Hamlets and Islington (both six). Kingston upon Thames and Newham had the fewest, with one apiece, but the data confirmed that firefighters have faced assault and abuse all across the city.
Statistics published by the Home Office indicate that there were 96 injuries suffered from attacks during operational incidents in 2023/24. Not only was this a rise of more than 25% on the year before, but it was the highest figure recorded in any of the past 15 years, and a 284% increase on the 25 cases noted in 2014/15.
Firefighters suffered 82 slight injuries and 14 serious injuries, according to the data.
Before leaving his role in January, Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack called for greater trust and protection for firefighters when responding to the data collected by Legal Expert.
Wrack said:
“Firefighters must be able to respond to emergencies everywhere without fear of abuse or injury from attacks.
“It is 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.
“Some services are now overseen by police commissioners, which jeopardises public perception of the service as independent and humanitarian.
“We need investment in the fire and rescue service to reduce the risks firefighters face while they are protecting others.”
Of the fire services that responded to Legal Expert’s request for information, West Midlands Fire Service returned by far the highest number of cases, with 666 physical and verbal assaults. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service reported a total of 372 attacks, while there were 296 noted by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service between April 2019 and March 2024.
Legal Expert offers free advice to emergency service workers considering civil action for injuries suffered in an assault at work. Those interested in learning their legal options can call 0800 073 8804 or contact Legal Expert online.
Featured image credit: By Slinkierbus268 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49801947
Body image credit: Legal Expert
