The Fire Brigades Union is aware that television news and social media are showing footage and pictures of a fire service aerial appliance, which has been in use this morning for the purposes of assessing any potential fire or other safety risk, at a demonstration taking place at the Elbit arms factory in Shenstone in the West Midlands.
The FBU wishes to make it clear that the fire and rescue service is a neutral organisation and is not an arm or agency of the police.
The service’s neutrality is something which the union and its members cherish and allows us to reach out to all sections of our communities; including those groups or individuals who feel alienated.
Firefighters, the majority of whom are FBU members, take action on any incident on the instruction of the fire services incident commanders who themselves will act to ensure that they do all they can not to compromise the trust of the public, including protestors who wish to demonstrate their grievances.
The FBU supports the right to peaceful protest.
Andy Dark, FBU assistant general secretary, said: “We are receiving a number of enquiries regarding the fire service attendance at the Elbit factory.
“The fire and rescue service is not a law enforcement agency. The FBU has made contact with senior managers in the fire and rescue service and is assured that firefighters will not be deployed in that capacity.
“As a union we are also mindful that it is not uncommon for rooftop demonstrators to discover that they are not comfortable soon after making their way to the roof of a building. The last thing we want is for anyone to become injured or ill. We understand that the aerial appliance was deployed to ensure that no-one on the roof was hurt or feeling unwell.
“The demonstration at the factory is an example of the widespread condemnation of the human suffering in Gaza; an issue that the FBU executive council made a statement on last week.”
Read the FBU statement on Gaza here.
