
From the Herald this morning keeping you ‘informed’ and perhaps a bit more tetchy than is good for you:
Firefighters have had to deal with more than 500 bonfires on Thursday, with some crews attacked as they responded to incidents. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) handled 1,193 calls from members of the public between 3.30pm and midnight on November 5.
There were 13 attacks though with no injuries.
I agree any attacks of firefighters are deplorable but is this particularly bad? Is it worse than last year, say?
Last year we heard from STV:
‘On November 5th last year there were 13 attacks on fire crews across Scotland.’
We heard nothing at all to put this in context. Any viewer, wide awake, might be wondering is that an increasing phenomenon?
From Police Scotland, on last year’s incidents:
Sunday 4th November 2018 saw 56 reported ASB incidents and 19 fireworks offences, compared to 157 and 146 respectively for Sunday 5th November 2017. This equates to a 64% reduction for antisocial behaviour and an almost 87% reduction for crimes involving fireworks.
I am surprised that the ‘tip of the iceberg’ trope was not deployed, using a vox pop by I Madeitup, saying “people have just given up reporting these things. There was an inferno here last night but nothing is ever done.It happens hundreds of times on Bonfire Night. In fact, it happens right throughtthe year.”
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