Manchester Firefighters report shocking 372 attacks on them as union calls for greater protection

Data collected by Legal Expert has revealed the extent of violence against firefighters in Greater Manchester, as its fire service reported almost 400 counts of aggression during operations.

In response to a Freedom of Information request, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) shared details of 372 violent acts between November 2020 and November 2024.

While the number of attacks has steadily decreased, only West Midlands Fire Service registered more incidents than GMFRS in the same period.

After four cases in the last two months of 2020, there were 94 in 2021, or one firefighter attacked during service every 3.88 days.

There were a similar number of assaults in 2021 and 2022 (89 and 79 respectively). 2023 saw 70 attacks, while there were 45 in 2024–less than half the total seen four years before, but still significantly more than anywhere other than the West Midlands.

Five incidents saw at least one firefighter suffer serious injuries or require a hospital visit. Two were in 2020, with one attack in June occurring while staff attended an operation in Withington, and one November attack taking place in Manchester’s Philip’s Park.

There were also two serious incidents in 2022. At least one officer required medical attention in hospital due to January and June assaults in Bury and Gorton respectively.

A further incident took place in Oldham in May 2023, again leading to at least one firefighter’s hospitalisation.

All attacks bar the Philip’s Park incident were also recorded as leading to slight injuries for at least one firefighter. There were 14 such incidents in total, with two apiece occurring in Gorton, Stalybridge and Wythenshawe.

Blackley named as firefighter assault hotspot

When broken down by incident location, it is Blackley that played host to the highest number of attacks. There were 27 in the area, although there have been none noted since January 2024.

Rochdale was second on the list, accounting for 23 of the assaults logged by GMFRS.

20 attacks were recorded in Stockport, including four in January 2020 alone, and another four in February 2023.

There were 18 apiece in Oldham and Wythenshawe. Further down the list, 12 attacks happened in Manchester Central and Wigan. There were fewer in Bury (eight), Bolton (seven) and Salford (five).

A quarter of all incidents in 2024 occurred in either Rochdale or Eccles, while there were none at all in Manchester Central.

Statistics published by the Home Office indicate that there were 96 injuries suffered from attacks during operational incidents in 2023/24. Not only was this a rise of more than 25% on the year before, but it was the highest figure recorded in any of the past 15 years, and a 284% increase on the 25 cases noted in 2014/15.

Firefighters suffered 82 slight injuries and 14 serious injuries, according to the data.

Before leaving his role in January, Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack called for greater trust and protection for firefighters when responding to the data collected by Legal Expert.

Wrack said: “Firefighters must be able to respond to emergencies everywhere without fear of abuse or injury from attacks.

“It is vital that fire and rescue services retain and build trust with local communities, but community engagement projects have been cut while firefighters are sent out with fewer resources and smaller crews.

“Some services are now overseen by police commissioners, which jeopardises public perception of the service as independent and humanitarian.

“We need investment in the fire and rescue service to reduce the risks firefighters face while they are protecting others.”

Of the fire services that responded to Legal Expert’s request for information, West Midlands Fire Service returned by far the highest number of cases, with 666 physical and verbal assaults. There were 296 incidents noted by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service between April 2019 and March 2024.

Legal Expert offers free advice to emergency service workers considering civil action for injuries suffered in an assault at work. Those interested in learning their legal options can call 0800 073 8804 or contact Legal Expert online.