New British Pastime - Ambush Firefighters
Fire crew attacks 'on the rise'
"The number of violent attacks on fire crews in England and Wales is going up despite government claims to the contrary, the Fire Brigades Union says.
Assaults rose from 1,300 in 2006 to 1,500 in 2007, the union said. Official figures fell from 1,300 to 400.
It said such attacks had become a "recreational activity" with crews facing a daily threat of being ambushed, shot at, stabbed and abused.
(...)
The FBU's study suggests there are about 40 attacks every week, ranging from stabbings and shootings to ambushes where firefighters are pelted with bottles or bricks."
It's amazing that this would be happening, but a quick search reveals a real problem. The firefighters encounter booby traps as well as having their equipment stolen when they respond to fires. The only explanation I could venture is that youth in England are so alienated from their culture, so disaffected that they attack any symbols of government authority at the slightest provocation.
It's interesting that the Fire Brigades Union says there are so many assaults that they're not all recorded but the government insists on falsifying the numbers.
"The number of violent attacks on fire crews in England and Wales is going up despite government claims to the contrary, the Fire Brigades Union says.
Assaults rose from 1,300 in 2006 to 1,500 in 2007, the union said. Official figures fell from 1,300 to 400.
It said such attacks had become a "recreational activity" with crews facing a daily threat of being ambushed, shot at, stabbed and abused.
(...)
The FBU's study suggests there are about 40 attacks every week, ranging from stabbings and shootings to ambushes where firefighters are pelted with bottles or bricks."
It's amazing that this would be happening, but a quick search reveals a real problem. The firefighters encounter booby traps as well as having their equipment stolen when they respond to fires. The only explanation I could venture is that youth in England are so alienated from their culture, so disaffected that they attack any symbols of government authority at the slightest provocation.
It's interesting that the Fire Brigades Union says there are so many assaults that they're not all recorded but the government insists on falsifying the numbers.
posted by nolocontendere at 7:04 AM
5 Comments:
Man... talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Of all the government services my taxes go to, fire fighters are one of the only ones that I'm totally, 100% behind LOL.
Obviously, there is a major dysfunctional disconnect between England's authoritarian establishment and it's lower-class youth.
If it were a corporation burning, I might take sides with them, but if it were a neighbor's small-business, I'd help the fire-fighters. I have to wonder if they're selective about the fires they choose.
Must be blind rage, an indication of some pretty severe underlying problems.
Likely, these are professional arsonists who are burning buildings for hire so insurance policies can be collected on.
This is a trend that has been predicted to happen with greater frequency in the US with the collapse of the housing industry.
gc
Very good point, greencrow, hadn't thought of that angle.
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