Fire service use of drones is evolving; London Ambulance Service to host NHS Resilience Interoperable Capabilities Team

Every weekday morning we bring you the sector’s freshest news stories, starting today with an insightful look into how fire services are leveraging drone technology to provide improved situational awareness and identify hazards, casualties, fire spread and wider incident issues.

There’s also news of London Ambulance Service being awarded the contract to host the NHS Resilience Interoperable Capabilities Team from April 1 for the next five years. London Ambulance Service takes over this reponsibility from West Midlands Ambulance Service, which has hosted the team for the past 13 years.

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Fire service use of drones is evolving, but needs trust and support of communities to succeed

Fire and rescue services were early adopters of drones almost 10 years ago. But what’s the situation today?

Tim Murrell, NFCC drones lead, provides an update on work the fire and rescue service is doing to evolve use of drones and robotics to improve firefighter safety. More via Emergency Services Times

Home Office publishes new and revised PACE codes of practice

The Home Office has published new and revised PACE codes of practice relating to conduct and procedure. Some key changes include the introduction of new stop and search powers in the Public Order Act 2023; changes to police powers made by the National Security Act 2023; and changes to communication and data collection requirements. More via College of Policing

PFEW unearths shortfalls amid Government’s policing inquiry response

While the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has welcomed elements of the Government’s response to the Home Affairs Committee (HAC) inquiry on policing priorities, it has also unearthed areas for further consideration.

National Chair, Steve Hartshorn, has raised ongoing concerns including funding issues and the retention crisis. More via PFEW

Emergency location markers installed along parts of Wirral coast

New location markers have been installed along parts of the Wirral coast to assist emergency services in responding to incidents in the River Mersey or Irish Sea.

A total of 58 numbered signs have gone up from Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton down to Woodside Ferry in Birkenhead as part of a lifesaving initiative led by Wirral Council’s Community Safety team in partnership with Merseyside Water Safety Forum, which includes representatives from Merseyside Police, Wirral Council, HM Coastguard, RNLI and the charity, Samaritans. More via Wirral Globe

London Ambulance Service to host NHS Resilience Interoperable Capabilities Team

NHS England announced yesterday (Wednesday 31 January) that London Ambulance Service has been awarded the contract to host the NHS Resilience Interoperable Capabilities Team for the next five years, following a competitive tendering process.

Staring from April 2024, London Ambulance Service will work with NHS England and specialist resilience teams across the country to ensure the ambulance service can respond to a range of hazardous and demanding occurrences in the safest and most efficient manner possible. More via London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service champions new water rescue equipment register

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service has committed to supporting the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)’s new collaboration with GoodSAM’s lifesaving app – to ensure everyone remains safe around water. More via Northampton Chronicle

Devon Air Ambulance launches 200th landing site

The Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) has launched its 200th community landing site.

The location at Tews Lane Playing Fields is the second site in Fremington, North Devon, to support night flying operations.

The landing sites enable the charity to reach patients during hours of darkness in rural and remote areas. More via BBC News

More than four in 10 people do not know CPR, heart charity estimates

More than four in 10 adults in the UK do not know how to perform the emergency procedure cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF). More via North Wales Chronicle