The Fire Brigades Union says fire crews are ‘sickened’ by the silence of politicians over fire service cuts. Politicians have been queuing up to question police cuts, but none have yet challenged the same cuts to the fire service.
The union has been inundated by fire crews complaining about the lack of opposition to major fire service cuts in the wake of widespread civil disturbances. The strongest and most recent comments have come from fire crews working in areas of recent unrest.
The last wave of cuts saw the loss of 1,000 frontline posts by April 2011. But ever-increasing government cuts will see that rise to at least 6,000 by 2014.
The biggest cuts have happened and more threatened in Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the South West.
Andy Dark, FBU assistant general secretary said: “Fire crews are angry and sickened by the silence on widespread frontline fire service cuts.
“Pre-election promises not to cut frontline services have proved worthless. You don’t get much more frontline than a 999 response and we’re being cut to pieces.”
