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OPERATION BRIDGE - Cumbria Constabulary

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GPMS RESTRICTED<br />

8.115 The ambulance staff on duty on the 2nd June 2010 provided<br />

statements to the investigation. It is apparent that the ambulance<br />

service had a significant number of resources on duty. During the<br />

incident, at least one of those ambulances was deployed with a<br />

Doctor on board.<br />

8.116 It is clear that the ambulances were not deployed to the majority of<br />

the incidents, despite being requested by members of the public and<br />

<strong>Cumbria</strong> <strong>Constabulary</strong>.<br />

8.117 The North West Ambulance service NHS Trust, Head of Service, Mr<br />

MULCAHY, produced a statement of evidence on the 21 st January<br />

2011. The statement contains significant reference to the safety of<br />

his staff and the responsibility on the police service to create a safe<br />

environment for the ambulance service to deploy and to provide an<br />

escort to each scene.<br />

8.118 The content of the statement demonstrates the procedures of the<br />

ambulance service and provides an insight into why the ambulances<br />

available that day were not deployed.<br />

8.119 The effect on <strong>Cumbria</strong> <strong>Constabulary</strong> was significant.<br />

8.120 Police officers were left at scenes for significant periods of time with<br />

seriously injured casualties.<br />

8.121 During the latter stages of the incident, police patrols were diverted<br />

from their deployments to convey casualties to the local hospital.<br />

8.122 In every case that the ambulance service were requested to attend by<br />

<strong>Cumbria</strong> <strong>Constabulary</strong>, police officers were at the scene.<br />

8.123 One ambulance attended the scene in Coach Road and was treating<br />

Terry KENNEDY when the ambulance crew were instructed to leave<br />

the scene by ambulance control. It was only at the insistence of the<br />

police officer at that location that prevented the casualty being left in<br />

situ.<br />

8.124 In the event of a future similar incident it is essential that the police<br />

service and ambulance service fully understand each others needs.<br />

During an incident such as this, it is very unlikely that the police will<br />

be in a position to guarantee that the scene is safe; however, it would<br />

be reasonable for the public to expect the ambulance service to<br />

attend scenes where there is residual risk.<br />

8.125 Whilst Derrick BIRD was still at large, the armed police officers had to<br />

make containing him their priority. In events such as this, the<br />

chances of armed officers being available to protect ambulance staff<br />

is unlikely; however, where the suspect has left the scene, a dynamic<br />

THIS REPORT IS EMBARGOED<br />

UNTIL 4PM MONDAY 28 TH MARCH 2011<br />

40

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