Emergency services warn against anti-social behaviour and deliberate fire setting over bonfire season

Greater Manchester’s emergency services have come together to launch a campaign, urging communities to be safe and warning against attacking emergency service workers or taking part in anti-social behaviour this Halloween and Bonfire Night.

It comes after incidents of anti-social behaviour (ASB) rose by more than 20% last year to over 10,000 recorded cases, with direct attacks on firefighters also increasing.

‘Bang Out Of Order’ is a campaign led by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) alongside Greater Manchester Police (GMP), North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), and the city-region’s 10 local councils.

GMFRS and GMP figures from 1 September to 13 November 2023 show:

• 22 attacks on firefighters
• Police and firefighters received 1,017 hoax calls
• 1,167 fires were started deliberately
• There were 10,036 incidents of ASB compared to 8,200 the year before

The ‘Bang Out Of Order’ campaign highlights the consequences of anti-social behaviour, encouraging parents to have conversations with their children about their behaviour over the bonfire and Halloween period, and informing residents about how to report these types of incidents.

As part of the campaign, GMFRS will be visiting schools to share safety advice on bonfires, fireworks and anti-social behaviour to ensure young people enjoy the autumn season safely.

Kate Green, deputy mayor for safer and stronger communities, said: “We know that most people in Greater Manchester will enjoy the Halloween and bonfire period safely and respectfully.

"Unfortunately, there will be a minority causing distress to residents, communities and emergency services through their anti-social behaviour, hoax calls that distract firefighters from attending more serious incidents, and attacks on emergency service workers who are trying to help.

“Our fire, police, and ambulance services have once again joined forces with local authorities to say this behaviour is ‘Bang out of Order’ – it will not be tolerated, and offenders could be jailed or fined.

“We are also asking for the public’s help to prevent incidents – you can report anti-social behaviour through GMP’s LiveChat service or call 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.

“If your child is planning to go out during this period, make sure you know where they are, what they are doing and how to contact them.”

GMFRS’s director of prevention and protection, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Carlos Meakin, said: “The bonfire and Halloween period is extremely busy for firefighters across GMFRS.

"Our crews do incredible work in keeping communities safe and are thankful to the majority of residents who enjoy this period safely.

“However, it is sad to see our firefighters attacked while they’re just trying to do their job. I hope that the Bang Out Of Order campaign, alongside our partner agencies, can highlight the dangers this behaviour poses and reduce these types of incidents.”

Superintendent John-Paul Ruffle, Greater Manchester Police’s force lead for ASB, said: “The Halloween and bonfire period is a busy one for GMP and our emergency service colleagues, and we want to remind people that they should enjoy themselves safely and respectfully, mindful of those in their communities.

“We work closely with partners to ensure that stores selling illegal fireworks are investigated and robustly dealt with, while our plans for this period will see continued work in tackling anti-social behaviour which can peak during this time and be a blight on the lives of law-abiding people.

“I want to reassure the public that we take anti-social behaviour very seriously, and we will be proactively working across the entirety of Greater Manchester with our partners and blue-light colleagues to tackle those responsible.

“We fully support the Bang Out Of Order Campaign and want to help highlight the risks, dangers, and consequences of inappropriate and illegal behaviour.”