WIRRAL
Telephone: / 0845 123 3333
Fax: / 01773 572639
Tel Ext: / 700 2776
Direct Line:
Ask For: / Freedom of Information
Our Ref: / 000166/09
Your Ref:
Date: / 8 October 2018
Dear MRSPIFFY
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST - REFERENCE NO: 000166/09
I write in connection with your request for informationwhich was received byDerbyshireConstabulary on 20/01/2009.I note you seek access to the following information:
Thank you for a prompt response on information requested regardingthis incident that I am aware proved most distressing for allpolice officers involved. Please let me be clear. They have mysincere sympathy and I do not criticise their handling of thesituation at all. I am only surprised and saddened to learn that deployment was such that incidents of public disorder could notpossibly be dealt with.
- Can you advise whether deployment procedures have been reviewed asa result of this incident?
- Will future deployment of officers account for an appropriate excess that can deal promptly with acrowd inciting suicide - should the situation arise ?
Like most, Iam shocked at the animalistic behaviour shown by certain members of the public and want to know what can be done about it in future -if anything.
Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within Derbyshire Constabulary to locate information relevant to your request. I can confirm that Derbyshire Constabulary does hold limited information relevant to your request.
Question 1 and 2 –
In all instances we hope we are a learning organisation and always open to reviewing procedures in the light of events. We regularly debrief after an incident to see how the handling of situations can potentially be improved. It is difficult to respond in a fully regimented way to a spontaneous incident as no two incidents are exactly the same.
There are many factors to consider including the other priority demands on resources which may already be receiving attention. We try to resource appropriately to all incidents but as you will appreciate the fluctuation of demand to provide attention to calls for service is not something we are able to regulate. Emergency services are just that, at such times as the above, we are able to provide an appropriate service to the public. This service may be scaled in terms of the build up of resources at an incident as it develops.
At the time of this incident the main focus was on trying to provide support to Mr Dykes in an effort to save his life, the relevant resources to attend to that aspect were fully in place.
Officers at the scene have to make a discretional judgement of the use of resources at the time to peripheral matters, and where a large crowd are potentially subject to danger from traffic on a major route through the city the most appropriate choice of action needs to be taken.
In this instance the protection of the public took precedence over trying to establish who in a large crowd may have made a comment. Later use of CCTV to try and establish any identity of offences was unsuccessful as the clarity of the film from distance was insufficient.
Complaint Rights
Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your right of complaint.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Derbyshire Constabulary.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or contact Stuart Barlow, Freedom of Information Manager, on telephone number 0845 123 3333quoting the reference number.
Yours sincerely
Stuart Barlow
Freedom of Information Manager
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