Spy cameras set for city’s fire engines

Date: 10/11/2005
Source: Salford Advertiser
Author: -

ONE of four special fire engines, fitted with spy cameras to catch young thugs who attack fire crews, is set to be deployed in Salford.

As part of a trial period, the four cameras will be mounted on the dashboard inside the vehicles and can be turned on by the leading officer at a scene if they feel it is necessary in catching yobs who regularly throw stones, abuse and even assault firefighters.

Fire bosses have confirmed the special fire engines will be used in areas where this type of crime is on the increase and according to their own figures, there have been 36 incidents in Salford this year - the highest across Greater Manchester.

It comes as three teenagers were all convicted of violent disorder by Salford magistrates after being part of 30-strong group of drunken youths that intimidated and attacked a crew who had put out a rubbish fire in Winton, Eccles.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service adopted the trial scheme after seeing it successfully implemented elsewhere in Britain.

After installing recording equipment, West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service experienced a 47 per cent reduction in attacks during the first 12 months of operation with the cameras also contributing to the successful conviction on one attacker who was jailed for six months.

Fire bosses here are hopeful the trial period will be a success and point out that they will have no hesitation in turning all evidence over to the police.

Assistant county fire officer Kieran Nolan, who is responsible for the scheme, said: "Attacks are nothing new but the intensity of the attacks has increased dramatically.

"Some members of the public are not scared of assaulting firefighters and in some cases they have become more about creating a hindrance, such as slashing water hoses.

"If they do that whilst a fire crew are in a building, they are risking the safety of the firefighters and the safety of their own communities.

"These attacks are unacceptable and the safety of our crews is of paramount importance. Our aim is to use the cameras as a deterrent but where necessary any video evidence of an attack will be used to help the police in potential prosecutions."

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