Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and firefighters have been involved in a national training exercise to test the emergency response to a major incident.
Officers and staff from Counter Terrorism Policing South East and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary worked alongside colleagues from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, South Central Ambulance Service and local authority partners as part of the two-day exercise.
Assistant Chief Constable, Tim Metcalfe, from Counter Terrorism Policing South East, said:
“We are always focused on ensuring we are match-fit to respond to any major incident or terrorism incident.
“These sorts of incidents can often present a complex and confusing picture in the initial stages. We use exercises such as this to ensure that across policing, our ability to respond to these incidents is tried and tested.
“It is also an opportunity for us to strengthen our existing partnerships with other emergency services, such as the fire service and ambulance service, not forgetting our local authority partners, who are a crucial part of any response to such incidents.”
The exercise - which is not in response to or based on any specific threat or intelligence - included live-play elements to test a number of specialist capabilities across policing.
Facilities at St Mary’s Stadium and The Ageas Bowl, both in Southampton, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s training headquarters, were used for the scenarios to create realistic challenges for those involved and also to minimise any potential disruption to the public.
Assistant Chief Constable, Catherine Akehurst, from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, said:
“This exercise was a great opportunity to test our plans and make sure we are as prepared as possible in the event of a large scale emergency.
“We take these exercises very seriously and I’m grateful for the hours of hard work our officers and staff have put in, alongside our colleagues at CTPSE and other partners, to get to this point.”
Exercises like this take place throughout the year across the country to ensure Counter Terrorism Policing and the wider policing family, is prepared for major incidents, should the worst happen.
Communities defeat terrorism, and information from the public is vital to counter terrorism investigations.
If you see or hear something unusual or suspicious and think someone may be engaging in terrorist activity, trust your instincts and act by reporting it in confidence at gov.uk/ACT or the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, dial 999.
Island MP Criticises Government’s Budget For Increasing Pressure On Health And Social Care Providers
Ajax To Northampton: Transfer Fee Agreed For Island Based Steam Railway Locomotive
Wootton Creek Water Quality Testing Program Launches
Warning Issued Following Recent Reports Of Courier Fraud
Freshwater Camp Road: Decision Made On 127-Housing Unit Proposal
Armistice Day And Remembrance Sunday Parade
Newport's Barton Primary School Receives Uplifting Inspection Ratings
Altered Tidal Energy Ventnor Proposal Set To Be Decided Upon
Southern Vectis November Community Fund Now Open
Prows Raised And Hearts Sunk: Floating Bridge Services Hit By Latest Issue
Government Confirms £20 Million Funding For Ryde
Isle Of Wight NHS Trust Opens Doors To New Community Diagnostic Centre At St Mary’s
Appeal Launched To Identify Champagne Shoplifters In Ryde
Wootton Bridge Renewable Energy Park Plan Resubmitted
Island Planning Strategy Submitted To Secretary Of State
Southern Water Unveils Plans For New Water Recycling Plant On Isle Of Wight
Campaign Group Condemns Wootton Bridge Palmers Farm Plans
Yacht Fire Leads To Cowes RNLI Lifeboat Launching
Rookley Could Be Set For New Industrial Unit
Robin Hill Issues Apology For Halloween Traffic Issues With Operations Manager Returning
