•Back to News

Crew safety update April 2001

Following the launch of our "No Excuse" crew safety campaign in December as part of the LAS Improvement Programme, I wrote to you about a number of other staff safety initiatives. This is an update on progress so far.

Stab vest trial

Stab vests are due to be issued to both Shoreditch and Oval/Brixton Stations within the next ten days, now that problems with suppliers have been overcome.

Publicity Campaign

This has resulted in posters placed in ambulances and on sites all over London. They have been particularly noticeable on the London Underground. Posters and details of the dangers faced by crew staff have been circulated to MPs throughout London. The campaign, which was discussed during a debate on the LAS in the House of Commons and has received considerable media coverage, will continue throughout 2001.

Tagging of high risk addresses     

A system for automatically identifying known high-risk addresses was introduced into CAC on

29^th March (see operational bulletin No.17). Developed by Paul Webster, Senior Operations Officer CAC, and the IT Department, this involves crews reporting addresses to their Station Officer where it is believed they or colleagues will be at serious risk if called to the address in the future. A comprehensive trawl of current at-risk addresses held locally has taken place to form the basis of the new database.

Staff Safety Officer                                               

Richard Absalom has been appointed as Staff Safety Officer.  Richard has an operational background with experience in the Safety and Risk and Legal Services departments.  Richard commenced work in this new role on the 20^th March 2001 and can be contacted on 020 7921 5182

Personal safety training

We will shortly be going out to tender for Personal Safety Training Services, in order for an external training supplier to provide instruction to all operational staff on safe, physical interventions to control the risk of violence.  The training will include Threat Awareness, Basic BreakAway Techniques, Safety in Confined Spaces and Tactical Communication.

Away from vehicle communications

This remains the most difficult problem to solve with a speedy and effective solution. However, urgent research is underway to establish how away from vehicle communications can be improved.  A number of options are under review including: improvements to the existing radio network; mobile telephones; and two-way paging systems. 

Liaison with the police and CPS

Philip Selwood, Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer and Tony Rowe Senior Emergency Planning Manager have visited New Scotland Yard to meet with the Commander responsible for Criminal Justice in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). Our deep concerns over the increasing violence against LAS crewstaff were highlighted and it was agreed to develop a closer working relationship with police in cases where crews are assaulted.  Contact has also been made with the Head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in London and the prosecution policy in relation to assaults on crews in London will be discussed. Similar talks will also take place between the LAS and the Magistrates Association over sentencing policy in London. Sector Commanders and Station Officers will be holding discussions with their local police commander and criminal justice units to see what opportunities exist locally for closer working relationships. In some areas this work has already started.

Stoke Newington incident 

The report into the assault on Simon Spencer and Terri Furina has now been completed and as a result a number of recommendations have been made to ensure lessons are learnt by the Service. The main ones are:

·      Five members of staff are recommended for the Chief Officers' Commendation for Bravery and/ or a high level of professionalism.

·      All Accident and Emergency vehicles be re-equipped with at least one hand portable radio and a robust system of audit introduced to ensure availability . This proposal is designed to support the current research regarding away from vehicle communication and acknowledges that in 1995 all A&E ambulances were issued with two hand portable radios each.

·     All CAC staff are reminded of the need to pass on all critical sheet information to crew staff and, when appropriate, to the Police Operations room.

·     A robust system is introduced to ensure that all staff, CAC and Operational, acknowledge receipt of training notes, instructions and bulletins.

·     Fleet services conduct a review of the battery management system for ambulances.

I have personally been chairing regular meetings about crew safety issues and can promise you that we will continue to do as much as we can to ensure that LAS staff are protected. I will keep you updated on further developments but, in the meantime, if you have any issues or questions arising out of this bulletin, please contact the Health and Safety department at Waterloo HQ

Peter Bradley Chief exec. LAS