£1,000 reward offered to catch culprits after firefighters attacked in Sunderland

Police chiefs have offered a bounty for information on a spate of attacks on emergency service workers and backed demands for tougher punishments.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness and Tyne and Wear Chief Fire Officer Chris LowtherNorthumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness and Tyne and Wear Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness and Tyne and Wear Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther

And while the prospect of a £1,000 reward could find those responsible, it is hoped mandatory prison sentences for anyone found guilty could stop it happening again.

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“Attacks on our emergency services are wrong,” said Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Kim McGuinness, “and the police will always look to deal with those involved.

“As part of that commitment, today I helped launch a £1,000 reward for those who bring information that leads to prosecution for those involved.

“But we also need the law to be a deterrent here, especially with tougher sentences for those who attack paramedics, firefighters and the police when they are working to keep us safe.

“I’ve written to the Government asking for just this, and I back the fire service in its call for better protection for emergency workers.”

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According to figures for the Northumbria Police force area, between June 2019 – 2020 there were 863 assaults on police officers, with a further 101 attacks on other emergency service workers since November 2018.

The PCC was speaking as Chris Lowther, chief fire officer at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, predicted a failure to get to grips with the problem could lead to someone being seriously injured or even killed.

As an example of the law’s current weakness in the face of attacks on the emergency services, he cited a 2017 ‘broad daylight’ assault of a firefighter who was left with a broken nose after being punched in the face tackling a blaze.

The man responsible was let off with a fine.

“Anyone who thinks this is funny or a way of getting attention needs to be dealt with by the book,” said Nick Forbes, the authority’s vice chairman and leader of Newcastle City Council.

He added: “We need our magistrates to back us and to do everything possible to protect our firefighters and demand the government and legal system backs them too.”

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Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or on freephone 0800 555 111.

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