*Essex firefighters assaulted 83 times by the public as union calls for greater protection

*National statistics indicate that injuries suffered in attacks on firefighters are at a 15-year high

DATA collected by Legal Expert has revealed the extent of attacks on firefighters in Essex as its fire service reported close to 100 counts of aggression during operations.

In response to a Freedom of Information request, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) shared details of 83 violent acts between January 2019 and October 2024.

Essex firefighters attacked at least once per month

The number of cases has remained fairly consistent across recent years, with 17 attacks in 2019 and 2021 sandwiching the 16 cases reported in 2020.

There were 11 in 2022, followed by 13 the year after. Last year, accounting only for the period between January and October, firefighters were set upon by the public nine times.

An average of around 13 cases per year means that, based on the figures, ECRFS staff are suffering an attack at least once per month.

August was the worst month for attacks on staff, with 11 reports. Alongside April, November follows with 10, despite data only being available for five of the six years.

The most prolific individual months were November 2019 and May 2021, periods in which four separate reports of firefighter assault were collected.

Harlow shown to be Essex capital of firefighter assaults

Physical attacks reported to ECRFS included pushing, spitting and one dog attack. There were 14 recorded physical assaults, as well as 18 instances of threatening behaviour towards staff.

Offensive or aggressive language was used towards firefighters on 53 occasions, with one further incident labelled ‘unreasonable conduct’.

In 16 other cases, projectiles were thrown, including attempts to hit operational staff with thrown items.

When divided by location, Harlow was found to be the capital of attacks on Essex firefighters. 21 incidents were reported back to ECRFS’ Harlow station. This includes 10 of the incidents involving projectiles, or 63% of the county’s total.

Basildon (11 reports), Southend (nine) and Chelmsford (six) followed, while there were five attacks in Thurrock.

Four incidents took place in Clacton and Colchester, and there were multiple reports of violence in Brentwood and Grays (three each).

35 of the assaults were on an individual staff member, while another 10 were against two or three. ECRFS stated that 29 incidents saw four or more staff members victimised by members of the public, and another eight affected at least eight firefighters.

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.

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A spokesperson for Essex Fire and Rescue Service said: “Any form of aggression towards our crews our Control Room staff is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. 

“Our people work to protect and serve their communities and it’s appalling when they can’t do their jobs because of aggressive members of the public. Every member of our team should be able to do their job without fear of physical or verbal abuse.

“We are committed to providing a safe working environment for all our staff and take all reports of assaults seriously. We’d like to remind people that if you see us or our blue light colleagues out and about – in what are often very difficult circumstances – please be kind and don’t make a tough job even harder.”

“Any form of aggression towards our crews our Control Room staff is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. 

“Our people work to protect and serve their communities and it’s appalling when they can’t do their jobs because of aggressive members of the public. Every member of our team should be able to do their job without fear of physical or verbal abuse.

“We are committed to providing a safe working environment for all our staff and take all reports of assaults seriously. We’d like to remind people that if you see us or our blue light colleagues out and about – in what are often very difficult circumstances – please be kind and don’t make a tough job even harder.”