This year, there have been numerous press reports detailing incidents of violence against firefighters on call. Whether physical or verbal, such incidents are taking an increasing toll on the morale of volunteers and professionals, who carry out more than 4.4 million call-outs each year. "If the way to thank a firefighter is to stab them, then I have to ask myself about my future in this big family" A firefighter from the south of France, who was the victim of an assault a few weeks ago, spoke to our editorial team.
Just this morning, Secours Info reported on an assault that took place last Sunday in Bordeaux, where an officer from the Gironde (33) SDIS was the target of a “"violent headbutt" made by a man who was none other than the victim who had originally made the call. An act that remains unexplained at this stage. Although an increasing number of assaults are leading to formal complaints being lodged by the officer (and/or the department), "Have they really all been made known to the general public?", this is a question from one of our readers on our Facebook page.
A survey and a call for witnesses
The editorial team at Emergency Information has decided to produce a feature on this "phenomenon" which appears to be on an unfortunate upward trend. Have you ever been a victim of physical or verbal abuse? Take part in our survey and share your story by sending us a message on our Facebook page. Your anonymity is guaranteed.
A federation in action
"The phenomenon is gaining momentum", the National Federation of Firefighters (FNSPF) responded by calling for several measures to better protect firefighters, such as the option to file a complaint anonymously, and the harshest possible legal penalties for attackers. A report by the National Observatory on Crime and Criminal Justice Responses (ONDRP) states that a total of 2,280 firefighters reported having been victims of an assault whilst on duty in 2016 (compared with 1,939 in 2015), representing 5 per 10,000 call-outs (compared with 4.4 in 2015). These assaults resulted in 1,613 days of sick leave, representing a 36.1 per cent increase compared with 2015. To ensure the survey reflects reality as closely as possible, please share this article.