Attacks reduced by fire engine cameras

According to senior officers, there were 37 recorded attacks on firefighters between April 2009 and March 2010, down from 68 the previous year, a 45 per cent reduction.

By the end of 2008, all the organisation’s fire engines were equipped with CCTV, in response to the high number of attacks on firefighters. As well as helping to identify suspects, the footage can also be used for criminal prosecutions.

Brigade spokesman Neil Hessell said: “It is very pleasing to see that our decision to introduce CCTV on fire engines is having a direct impact on these attacks, which place the safety of our firefighters, and the people they are trying to protect, at risk.

“Thankfully, this type of incident in South Yorkshire is now extremely rare and it is only a tiny minority of people who would ever consider acting in such an irresponsible and dangerous way.”