Late last week, a protocol was established in favor of protecting firefighters. A significant signature when one considers that assaults on these everyday heroes continue to rise.
Following the “Don’t Touch My Firefighter” campaign launched in March 2018 by the national federation of firefighters, the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture, in association with the department and in the presence of Charles-Ange Ginésy as president of SDIS06, with support from deputy Eric Ciotti, signed a protocol aimed at ensuring the safety of these guardians of our daily lives. A first in France, which will focus on strengthening coordination with law enforcement services as well as strengthening ties with the population.
Thus, it will be necessary to involve police or gendarmerie officers as much as possible in “so-called sensitive” interventions to avoid the gratuitous assaults and violence suffered by our daily heroes during interventions. In 10 years, the number of assaults on these “soldiers of fire” has increased by no less than 200%, resulting in a doubling of the number of complaints filed in recent years (in 2020, the number went from 46 to 33 “thanks” to lockdowns).
As a result, one of the objectives of this protocol will be to facilitate the filing of complaints. “Every assault must lead to a complaint being filed […] because it is inconceivable that an assault on a firefighter would go unaddressed. The least we owe them all together is to allow them to perform their duties safely,” assures the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Bernard Gonzalez.
A statement that addresses the need expressed by the general controller and departmental director of fire and rescue services, René Dies: “Firefighters need to feel protected and supported. The signing of this agreement is beneficial and shows your commitment to protecting us!”
“I refuse to resign myself to this social phenomenon because I believe that if we do not protect those who protect us, it is simply our society that can no longer be protected. As long as we do not implement minimum sentences against those who attack firefighters, police officers, or gendarmes, we will not reduce the pressure they undergo,” defends deputy Ciotti, specifying his desire to “double the penalties against those who at the first instance assault a public authority representative.”
This protocol will also allow for the implementation of preventive training to anticipate and avoid the risks of violence in “sensitive” areas. Several awareness workshops in schools will be organized, which over time may inspire some vocations.
