PLANS for firefighters in Bradford to become the first across West Yorkshire to wear body cameras in a bid to reduce attacks on crews have been shelved after a fire authority committee refused to sanction a proposed trial of the scheme.

The Executive Committee of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) had been asked to approve the purchase of six Body Worn Video (BWV) devices, costing a total of £3,528, to be used at Bradford, Odsal, and Fairweather Green stations, along with one crew from Leeds.

Fire chiefs had stated that BWV could have been an “independent witness” offering a visual deterrent to those threatening to attack firefighters, with users also encouraged to give verbal announcements to indicate the cameras were in use.

It was hoped that a “limited and controlled trial” of BWV could have provided WYFRS with an indication of the potential benefits to crews before any consideration of a service-wide roll out of the technology. But, the trial was criticised by unions, with the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) stating that the cameras would be like a “red rag to a bull” to attackers, and the Fire Officers Association expressing concerns over “trust in the use of the footage.”

The committee decided to defer a decision on any trial until further information could be provided to members, including a right to privacy report and a full breakdown of costs.

They also requested a full consultation on BWV with all firefighters, statistics involving prosecutions using the cameras, and evidence from BWV trials conducted in other areas.

WYFRS deputy chief fire officer Dave Walton said: “Having considered the report regarding the feasibility of introducing Body Worn Video cameras, the Executive Committee have requested more information from officers in respect of a number of issues.

“A further report will be taken back to the committee at a later date.”

David Williams, secretary of the FBU in West Yorkshire, who said BWV recordings could put firefighters in “untenable” positions, said while he welcomed the trial being deferred, the idea should have been thrown out completely.

“I don’t know if the fire authority are kicking this issue into the long grass in the hope that the FBU will soften their stance, but that won’t happen,” he said.

“If this were to go out to consultation, it would be overwhelmingly and wholeheartedly rejected. Firefighters just do not want to wear these cameras.

“There are no assurances that could be given that would change our view.

“There is a very real risk they would stand to lose out rather than benefit, and they simply won’t take that risk.”