Welsh Ambulance Service to benefit from new drone funding; Former officer jailed for misconduct in public office

Every weekday morning we bring you the sector’s freshest news stories, starting today with news of new funding for the Welsh Ambulance Service to boost its use of drone technology to deliver medicines and medical supplies.

There’s also a story on a former Cheshire Constabulary officer who has been jailed after being found guilty of misconduct in public office.

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Welsh Ambulance Service to benefit from new drone funding

In the latest funding round for the UKRI Future Flight Challenge, the Welsh Ambulance Service is benefitting from new money to lead a local consortium focused on delivering savings using autonomous drones embedded into the wider health network. More via Emergency Services Times

NFCC launches new national risk methodologies to support Community Risk Management Planning

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has released the last of a series of standardised tools to support UK fire and rescue services (FRSs) in their community risk management planning (CRMP).

The Road Traffic Collision (RTC) Risk Methodology is among a set of evidence-based risk assessment methodologies, that can be used by all UK FRSs. More via NFCC

Police chiefs praise significant seizure increases in Class A drugs and weapons

Policing leads have praised the country’s specialist organised crime units for significantly increasing their seizures of class A drugs and dangerous weapons in the last three years.

Both NPCC lead for Serious and Organised Crime, Chief Constable Chris Haward and Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst, NPCC lead for the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) Network have praised staff and officers for their continued fight against the threat posed by criminal gangs. More via NPCC

New study using novel ways to reduce number of attacks on firefighters

Colin Richardson, Assistant Professor, Marketing, Operations and Systems, Newcastle Business School in the Faculty of Business and Law in Northumbria University, has been investigating the causes of the growing number of attacks on fire service personnel when attending incidents.

In this recent article for Emergency Services Times, Colin explains more about these negative interactions with the aim of identifying potential solutions to help address this issue. More via Emergency Services Times

IFE releases update on its strategy development journey

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has released an update on its strategy development journey.

In the update, the IFE said phase 1 virtual strategy development sessions were successfully held in March and thanked all those who attended and gave their input to the process. More via IFE

Former Cheshire Constabulary officer jailed for misconduct in public office

A former Cheshire Constabulary officer investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been jailed after being found guilty of misconduct in public office.

Former PC Jordan Masterson was convicted following a trial on 1 February 2023 after the IOPC investigated a report that he abused his position for a sexual purpose. More via IOPC

Vale of Glamorgan coastline launches What Three Words signage initiative

Markers utilizing the what3words system have been strategically positioned along the Vale Coastal Path in South Wales to expedite the location of lost walkers, casualties, missing individuals, or those in distress by emergency services.

what3words employs a three-word address system utilized in 170 countries worldwide, including by UK emergency services such as South Wales Police. More via News From Wales

South Western Ambulance Service asks for patient feedback

The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is encouraging people to join their next Patient Participation Panel meeting to share their views about the care and service provided to patients and members of the public across the South West region.

The next Patient Participation Panel meeting is on Friday 12 April at 1000-1130 on Microsoft Teams and future meetings will be in August and December on the second Friday of each month. More via SWASFT