CCTV to halt crew attacks (From Free Press Series)

CCTV to halt crew attacks

Torfaen Fire fighters are backing plans to install CCTV in their appliances, as the first on-board camera is tested in Cardiff.

A staggering number of attacks against fire crews has prompted the move, aimed at combating violence.

Divisional officer of operations Eric Robson, who is based at New Inn, claims that his crews across South Wales face violence almost every day.

He said: "Though the camera is just on trial at the moment at one of our busiest stations, we hope that this sort of programme will focus the minds of these people, in that we will have a record of them."

A spokesman for the South Wales Fire Service said there had been more than 40 recorded attacks on fire crews attending incidents in just over a year.

They include several incidents in Cwmbran and Blaenavon. Each attack is reported to the police as a criminal offence, but the conviction rate is low.

Divisional officer Robson claims that police have difficulty in finding proof of an attack.

He said: "Hopefully the cameras give us video evidence of the person which we can use in court and this should improve the conviction rate, but more importantly it should deter people."

Torfaen's firefighters have had stones thrown at them as they respond to emergency calls. Mr Robson explained that the people concerned were not just unruly youngsters, but that attacks had also been carried out by adults.

Fire chiefs claim that some calls crews respond to turn out to be hoaxes aimed at luring crews to a particular area.

South Wales Fire Service fears that more incidents are likely to occur as the schools break up for their autumn half term holiday and bonfire night approaches.

Mr Robson said: "It is a real concern that our appliances could get damaged and attacks like these hinder our work in protecting the public from fire."