Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to trial body-worn video cameras after rise in attacks on emergency service workers

New body-worn video cameras are set to be worn by firefighters next year after seeing rise of attacks on emergency service workers.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service will begin trialling the new cameras as part of an initiative to improve the safety of its staff and the communities they serve.

The decision comes in response to a rise of attacks on emergency service workers across the country, as well as learning from significant incidents that crews have attended over the past few years.

The body-worn cameras will not only act as a deterrent to individuals who may be inclined to act aggressively towards fire and rescue staff, they are an invaluable tool for collecting evidence during incidents attended by crews.

They will also be used to collate information and feedback to be included in our incident debriefs and to promote good practice across the organisation.

Group manager Chris Emmott said: "Our staff are dedicated to keeping our communities of Nottinghamshire safe, and we want to ensure that our frontline staff can do that confidently, without the fear of violence or intimidation.

"Sadly, we have seen attacks on our operational members of staff and our vehicles over the years, especially during the busier periods, so we are hopeful that having these cameras will help reduce them across the county.

"Ensuring our teams have the tools and support they need to carry out their duties effectively is vital and implementing these cameras is just one step to becoming an outstanding fire and rescue service by 2032.

"If you do see a firefighter wearing a body-worn camera over the next few weeks, please don't be alarmed - they are also in place to protect the public, as well as our staff."

Firefighters from Stapleford, London Road, and Stockhill Fire Station, as well as senior officers, will be taking part in the five-week trial of the cameras before hopefully implementing them across the whole fire service in Spring 2025.