Counter-terrorism is among issues at the annual Emergency Services Show which returns to Hall 5 at the NEC, Birmingham on September 20 and 21 (pictured, last year’s show entrance). North West Ambulance Service for example will present a session on the Manchester Arena terrorist attack, which it attended. Sir Keith Porter, Professor of Clinical Traumatology, University of Birmingham will speak about the role of citizenAID in the light of the recent terrorist attacks in London at Westminster, London Bridge and Finsbury Park Mosque.
Simon Lewis, Head of Crisis Response, British Red Cross will present a session on the charity’s role in emergency response to crises such as the Manchester and London terror attacks. He says: “When large emergencies happen there is an outpouring of support from local people. As we’ve seen from Manchester, London and the Grenfell Tower fire, members of the community play a vital part in the response. Harnessing these valuable voluntary acts and integrating them with the official response has long posed a challenge to the emergency planning and response sector. The project aims to enhance community resilience by providing local people with a focused and practical way to help others, particularly during long-running major incidents.”
All of the free seminars will be CPD-accredited.
On the CBRN Centre stand visitors can hear the UK’s multi-agency approach to CBRN threat. Deputy Head of the National CBRN Centre, Chief Inspector Richard Butterworth, says: “Our tri-service team, with partner agencies, continually reviews the CBRN threat and mitigates identified vulnerabilities. It also equips UK emergency responders with the knowledge and capability to respond in a proportionate, agile and effective manner to a CBRN incident.
“The CBRN threat has not changed, but we must be cognisant of our increasingly connected world, where information and expertise that has historically been hard to access is now instantly available at the click of a button. This, combined with the fast flow of people and goods, is a challenge for us in mitigating the CBRN risk.
“It is essential that the emergency services and its partners continue to prepare through training and exercising a multi-agency response. However, we must also be mindful of the opportunities developing for improving our capability. Considering and planning how the future emergency response will look is vital. To this end, we are actively searching for innovative technologies and approaches that will further protect and save lives.”
Mark Williams, CEO of the Police Firearms Officer Association (PFOA) agrees that technology and training are key: “It is important that we keep up to date with the latest technology to ensure we are at the cutting edge to give officers and forces the best tools to fight crime and the threat of terrorism, and at the same time ensuring that the training is appropriate and the best it can be to prepare officers to be able to best protect themselves and the public.”
At the PFOA stand you can find out more about its Welfare Support Programme which includes a 24/7 support line. The PFOA also delivers Post Incident Management training to UK police and agencies. Mark Williams says: “After the recent terrorist attacks the PFOA has been busier than ever assisting officers involved, both armed and unarmed.”
Living with PTSD
A new seminar theatre covering health and well-being of emergency services personnel will cover issues such as mental health and health and safety. A serving police officer who suffered a nervous breakdown will speak; and a paramedic diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who has set up the charity Our Blue Light. Simon Durance and Gary Hayes, co-founders of the charity PTSD999, will present a session on living with PTSD.
The Police Federation of England and Wales will be sharing details of its Protect the Protectors campaign. The Federation is pressing for better training and access to equipment, a wider roll-out of protection measures such as Taser, Body Worn Video and spit guards, more accurate data on police assaults and improved welfare support.
To attend free, register at https://www.emergencyuk.com/.
