FIRE chiefs are considering the option of using body cameras to record evidence of an increasing number of attacks against West Yorkshire’s firefighters, a new report has revealed.

The idea is being discussed by the newly-formed Attacks on Firefighters Working Group, set up in January in response to a significant rise in attacks over the past year, particularly around the Bonfire Night period.

A report due to go before a meeting of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) Community Safety Committee on Friday states that as of March 6, there had been 88 reported attacks on firefighters in comparison to 60 the previous year, an increase of 46 per cent.

Around half of the attacks occurred across the Bradford district, with more than 60 per cent involving objects and fireworks being thrown at crews.

The report identifies a “spike” around Bonfire Night, and in one incident last November, a firefighter suffered temporary blindness and tinnitus after a lit firework exploded between his feet in Parson Street, Keighley.

The group, which is chaired by Bradford district commander Martin Speed, is aiming to maximise community engagement to prevent attacks on firefighters occurring, to introduce procedures which best ensure firefighter safety during any attack, and to work with partners to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

The group has met with police. where the report states that the law relating to the use of reasonable force, powers of arrest, and body-worn cameras were discussed.

It reads: “If WYFRS were to introduce body-worn cameras for firefighters or crew commanders, their ability to produce images of evidential quality would need to be considered.

“WYFRS are already considering their use to improve incident command and operational learning through debriefs, and are currently working with the FRS national research and development group who are researching their use in the fire service environment.”

Councillor Joanne Dodds, who chairs the safety committee and also sits on the attacks working group, said: “These attacks should never happen, it is unacceptable.

“Body cameras wouldn’t work for all attacks, but sometimes when firefighters are drawn into confrontations the evidence could be used to help convictions for those responsible.

“It is early days, but if we do go down that line it would probably be for incident commanders not all firefighters, but it could help identify the perpetrators.”

David Williams, secretary of the Fire Brigades Union in West Yorkshire, said he did not believe the cameras would help, and could lead to those wearing them being targeted by attackers.

“I have no confidence in body-worn cameras I’m afraid,” he said.

“We have 530 cameras on appliances across West Yorkshire, and when silent witness cameras in cabs were brought in years ago we were assured they would be a deterrent, but they haven’t worked.

“There has not been one image that has helped to secure a conviction.

“The vast majority of attacks on firefighters are people throwing objects from a distance, it is very rare we get involved in one-to one confrontations.

“Cameras could even encourage attacks as they will stand out like a sore thumb and could become a target for people throwing things.

“We need to address the core issues as to why these attacks happen, and this won’t do that.”