Bid to stop Bonfire Night attacks after yobs put two cops in hospital last year

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A campaign is being launched in an effort to stop emergency service personnel being attacked.The campaign is hoping to prevent attacks on police, firefighters and ambulance workers responding to incidents around Bonfire Night this year.It comes after a spike in incidents reported last year where emergency workers were hit by fireworks and other projectiles while on duty.In Edinburgh, two police officers had to be treated in hospital for head injuries after yobs threw bricks at their vehicle, and in another incident in the capital last year, up to 100 youths lobbed fireworks at members of the public.The independent charity Crimestoppers is fronting the new campaign with the support of the Scottish Government’s Building Safer Communities team.The charity hopes to encourage the public to report any planned attacks and help gather information after Bonfire Night to catch the culprits.Angela Parker, national manager of Crimestoppers in Scotland, said: “Our charity believes everyone has the right to feel safe, no more so than Scotland’s emergency services who risk their lives to keep us safe.

Bonfire Night should be safe and fun for everyone, but unfortunately, last year we saw serious attacks on crews.“That’s why we are asking anyone with information on those planning attacks to get in touch with our charity 100% anonymously. “No-one will ever know you contacted us, and your information could be preventing serious injury or harm or even loss of life for emergency workers.”Community safety minister Siobhian Brown said: “With Bonfire Night approaching, it is paramount that our emergency service workers can go about their duties safe from harm. “Any attack on fire, ambulance and police crews is utterly despicable.Get the latest