Under-attack crews given cameras

Fire crews in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland are to be issued with hand-held video cameras in an effort to trap stone-throwing youths.

Small cameras are also to be fitted to fire engines to record incidents of anti-social behaviour.

The move follows a series of attacks on crews over the past few days in the Ashington and Blyth areas.

Northumbria Police chief constable Mike Craik said "all means" would be used to track down the attackers.

Mr Craik said: "There have been a number of incidents involving attacks on fire crews and Northumbria Police will be relentless in hunting down and prosecuting those responsible, using all means to do this including CCTV technology.

'Physical attacks'

"This may take time, but I want those people to know that we could be knocking on their door at any time between now and Christmas."

Alex Bennett, deputy chief fire officer of Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It is unacceptable that members of Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service are being attacked.

"Our role is to protect the public and save lives, yet when we respond to some incidents we are receiving verbal abuse or physical attacks."

Assistant chief officer Ian Bathgate, of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, added: "I am sick and tired of the verbal and physical abuse that is frequently directed at firefighters by some people, in particular groups of youngsters.

"This problem is a continuous one, but it invariably gets worse in the run-up to Guy Fawkes night."