Police and firefighters attacked; bottles and stones thrown at emergency services as they attempt to deal with vandalised fire hydrants.
Byline: ELIS SANDFORD News Reporter [email protected]A POLICE officer has been attacked while protecting firefighters in Wood End following days of unrest in the area.
We can't hydrants safety. there was wouldn't Firefighters were called to the area a number of times over the weekend because fire hydrants were being tampered with but the crews from Binley and Foleshill Fire Stations were met with resistance from youths.
Watch Officers from West Midlands Police were called to assist but they too were the victims of verbal abuse and had stones and bottles thrown in their direction.
One police officer was struck by a filled water bottle on Hillmorton Road yesterday afternoon, prompting the police to launch an investigation into the assault.
turn the off for crew Realistically, if a fire we be able to it.
Crews from Foleshill Fire Station have been called to the Wood End area a number of times over the last two days, with around eight or nine hydrants having been tampered with.
Commander However, local youths have been resisting the firefighters' efforts to turn the hydrants off, with threats of violence and missiles being thrown. And the Watch Commander at Foleshill has warned that they might not be able to deal with fires in the area at present, due to a potential water shortage.
He said: "It's gotten to a point where we can't turn the hydrants off for crew safety. The police have assisted us on a couple of occasions, but they can't come out as often as the hydrants are being turned on.
"Realistically, if there was a fire in the area, we wouldn't be able to tackle it effectively because the hydrants are being improperly used."
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: "Police are investigating an assault on an officer after a filled water bottle was thrown on Hillmorton Road in Coventry just after 4pm on Tuesday June 26.
"Officers were assisting fire service colleagues after a fire hydrant was deliberately set off by a group of youths.
"Another fire hydrant was then reported to have been set off in Lillington Road just before 10.30pm on the same day."
Sgt Katy Callender from the Longford and Henley neighbourhood team said: "The actions of some members of the community in setting off fire hydrants is not only irresponsible, but exceptionally dangerous.
"The fire service have warned that the deliberate setting off of these hydrants could have severe consequences in the event of a fire, as there wouldn't be enough water available."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting crime reference 20CV/143086Z/18.
What an embarrassment FOLLOWING the reports of a police officer and firefighters being assaulted in Wood End, fire bosses warning that they might not be able to deal with any fires in the area due to a water shortage. Telegraph readers have been quick to react.
Sam Hall: "There's a level of stupid and then there's this. Selfish and thoughtless."
Lucy Wilkinson: "Every single year they do the same In the area, used to live in the new builds round the back when I was 7 and was the same then. People won't change it's free water and fun instead of buying a pool and evidently don't care about the risk of fires and need of water."
Andrew Webb: "If they are assaulting members of the emergency services, they should be arrested and charged."
Christine Stuar: "Should be charged!! Show respect to these services!! Idiots."
Rachel Jeavons: "What is wrong with people they there to help us not attack them. Definitely name an shame these people for what they did."
Mel Gregory: "Come on, the parents know what their children are doing, have a word. When I lived down on Bretford Road it wasn't the kids setting the hydrants off, it was the parents...old enough to know better."
Carl Hanson: "Disgusting treatment of people who put their lives on the line to save others. What gives people the right to set off the hydrants and then attach these brave people."
Foxford: "We live in Lentons Lane and had no water for the last 3 evenings. When are the police going to get tough?" Davidpm: "When or if ever these brain less thugs are caught the should be taken to Morton in the Marsh where fire fighters do there live fire training and then just maybe they will understand the importance of the fire hydrants.
"A fire tender can carry only so much water the fire hydrants play a massive part in fire fighting. Imagine if your house was on fire with your family in side the house on fire and you had tampered with a fire hydrant and the fire fighters where attacked by you and your mates. Does life means so very little to you?" John Walsh: "Can't the hydrants be sealed off so that access can only be enabled for the firemen?" Chris Gibson: "City of culture? City of disrespectful chavs. What an embarrassment."
in the into the we can't turn the hydrants off for crew safety. Realistically, if there was a fire we wouldn't be able to tackle it. Watch Commander
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Crews tacking a vandalised hydrant last summer
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| Publication: | Coventry Evening Telegraph (England) |
|---|---|
| Date: | Jun 28, 2018 |
| Words: | 871 |
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