COUNCILLORS have spoken out on the “outrageous” attacks on emergency services that have been increasing in recent weeks.

At a meeting of the Full Council on Tuesday, members voted in favour of a “Protect the Protectors” motions, supporting emergency services and calling for communities to do all they can to end attacks on firefighters, police and other uniformed services.

Bradford has seen a number of high profile incidents where emergency services have been attacked while doing their jobs in recent weeks, including police officers punched and missiles thrown at firefighters.

Speaking at the meeting Councillor Tariq Hussain (Lab, Great Horton) said the emergency services represent what makes the country great, adding: “How shocking it is, how outrageous, that those prepared to protect us are being attacked. Every attack on a public service worker is an attack on all of us.

“This should never, never be seen as an everyday part of the job, and we should never accept that this is the norm. It is important that we as councillors take a stand.

“It is not right that people say this is part of their job, and to just let people get away with it. We need to get the message out, what an appalling thing it is to attack these professionals doing their job.”

Councillor Abdul Jabar said: “These people have to face incredibly difficult situations on a daily basis. We need to send a message out to young people how important what firefighters do is.

In Bradford there is a majority of decent people who just want to get on with their lives. We need to make it clear that be it Bonfire night or Halloween, it doesn’t give you the excuse to break the law.

“We are determined to do all we can to prevent behaviour like this from happening.”

Councillor Russel Brown (Cons, Worth Valley) said: “When out saving people and property, these people shouldn’t have to be looking over their shoulders.”

By voting in favour of the motion, the Council has vowed to raise awareness of the tougher sentences arising from the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill, work with emergency services through engagement activities in schools and other youth and community settings and work to educate the public on the importance of treating emergency services with respect.

At the meeting Councillors also signed a thank you card to West Yorkshire Fire Service, which will be taken round to local youth groups.

In the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night, Council wardens have been patrolling known hot-spots and arranging to remove dangerous bonfires and piles of accumulated rubbish which could be set alight.

They have also been speaking to shopkeepers to warn them not to sell fireworks to children.