Fire authority hits out at 'disgusting' and 'sad' break-in attempts
Fire authority members have hit out at criminals behind repeated break-in attempts at a station, calling the attacks “disgusting”, “sad” and self-defeating.
A report said the garage door at Newport Fire Station suffered “significant damage” in the latest raid, but nothing was taken.
Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority member Paul Milner said would-be burglars were attempting to steal or damage equipment that could be used to fight a fire at their own homes, while chairman Pauline Dee said emergency workers faced an “appalling” lack of respect.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service Chief Officer Rod Hammerton and Planning, Performance and Communications Manager Ged Edwards wrote that the brigade plans to “introduce improvements to station access and security” as part of a county-wide building programme.
In a report summarising planned work at Ellesmere, Market Drayton, Telford Central, Tweedale and Whitchurch, Officer Hammerton and Mr Edwards added: “There has been a further attempted break-in at Newport. Nothing was taken, but significant damage was caused to an appliance bay door.”
Newport Fire Station’s Facebook page reported that, at 11pm on Wednesday, February 24, the Salters Lane facility was targeted “yet again”, and urged anyone with information to report it to the police.
Councillor John Thompson, who represents Telford and Wrekin Council’s Park ward, praised the extension and refit work at Telford Central and a proposed extension and internal rearrangement at Tweedale Fire Station.
“But,” he added, “it’s very sad that, in Newport, we’ve had a further break-in. Everybody needs the support of the fire services. It’s just disgusting, really.
“These things shouldn’t be happening.”
Cllr Milner, who represents Oswestry South on Shropshire Council, told the Standards, Audit and Performance Committee he had been “privileged” to meet firefighters serving the town.
“To think some people can actually try to take away or thieve stuff which then could be used to fight a fire which could engulf their families, is a bit sad,” he said.
Committee chairman Pauline Dee said: “Ambulance drivers are being attacked, and the fire service; there’s just no respect.
“And to break into a fire station is just appalling because they’re quite substantial buildings. The old fire station in Wem used to be just a tin hut, and I’m sure that never got broken into because people would never dream of abusing these services that help us so much.”
