Attacks on firefighters and firework-related antisocial behaviour (ASB) are on the rise in Salford, according to a report examining crime linked to the autumn period.
Last year, the city saw an 18 per cent increase in fire crews being verbally threatened or assaulted while carrying out their duties on busy nights such as Halloween and Bonfire Night. A total of 20 incidents were reported in 2025.
Rise in Firework-Related ASB
Firework-related antisocial behaviour also rose slightly, with 1,020 occurrences recorded in 2025, up by two per cent from 2024, the report on Operation Treacle found. Operation Treacle is a Greater Manchester-wide initiative to proactively deal with spikes in ASB on November 5.
The report, presented at a scrutiny panel at the town hall on Monday, September 18, also found that 935 fires were deliberately set during the October to November period. Almost 200 of these were classed as 'primary fires' – blazes that cause harm to people or damage to property. These figures, while high, were more than 20 per cent lower than in the previous year.
Council Strategy for This Year
The local authority discussed the figures while scrutinising its strategy to cope with a predicted rise in anti-social behaviour around the period this year. This will include increased patrols by uniformed and plain-clothed police officers, especially in known hotspots, spot-checks on businesses selling fireworks in the weeks leading up to the events, and official council-run firework nights.
Jeanette Staley, the council's head of community safety, said: "We have to recognise that people like to celebrate Halloween and Bonfire night. It's a traditional day of the year for people across the city and across the country. That's why it's important that we have organised fireworks and bonfire nights where people can go which we know will be safe.
"However, we do get unauthorised bonfires on council land and social housing land. Last year these took place in 18 different areas, primarily in three areas: in Kersal and Broughton, some in Little Hulton, and some in Pendleton and Charlestown. We'll be doing specific work in these areas.
"Often the communities are quite attached to these bonfires, and in some cases if causes more trouble to remove them than to let them go ahead so long as they are safe. We'll be assessing each of these on a case-by-case basis."
Organised Firework Events
The council's firework events will take place at Buile Hill Park on Saturday 31 October from 4pm, and Prince's Park on Sunday 1 November from 4pm.
GMCA were approached for comment about the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
