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Earlier this month, I visited Bridgend to observe Operation Tendley 2, a large-scale multi-agency road traffic collision exercise. Led by South Wales Police’s Richard Paskell, the exercise brought together police, fire, ambulance, and medical students from Cardiff University to test coordination, decision-making, and emergency response under realistic conditions.
Richard, a detective constable in the regional Capability Assurance team covering South Wales, Gwent, and Powys, explained that the exercise was six months in the planning. “We start with a back story and objectives,” he told me. “Whether that’s multi-agency working, JESIP principles, or testing ten second triage, everything is designed to generate learning.” The name “Tendley” comes from a random generator used to assign exercise titles; as this was the second exercise in the series, it was dubbed Tendley 2.
The exercise included immersive elements rarely seen in such training, such as BBC Casualty makeup artists creating realistic moulage injuries. I even encountered an actor from the show observing how Welsh services handle incidents. Richard highlighted that learning is embedded at every stage, from setting up vehicles to coordinating emergency services on site.
Multi-agency coordination in action
Chief Inspector Tim Davies, also from the Capability Assurance team, emphasised the importance of multi-agency working. “We observe whether commanders co-locate, share situational awareness, and make decisions collaboratively,” he explained. “If no agency is operating alone, we know JESIP is working.”
On the ground, Scott Walker, locality manager from the Welsh Ambulance Service, provided insight into JESIP huddles and situational awareness. Crews met at regular intervals to update each other on risks, casualties, and resources. They took notes manually, via tablets, and even with body cameras, highlighting the variety of recording methods used by different services. “Every 15 minutes, we reassess the scene, update risk, and adjust strategy,” Scott told me, demonstrating the dynamic nature of incident management.
South Wales Fire and Rescue’s Roger Magan added that exercises like this also build familiarity and confidence among incident commanders. “The more we practice, the more natural the cross-agency collaboration becomes,” he said. Volunteers and staff taking part in their own time further strengthened the realism of the day.
Ten second triage: learning from Manchester
A major focus of Tendley 2 was ten second triage, a quick casualty assessment method introduced across Wales in April 2024. The protocol allows first responders, including police and fire, to classify casualties as P1, P2, or P3 before paramedics arrive, enabling immediate life-saving interventions. Scott explained its value to me: “Even when the ambulance isn’t first on scene, police and fire can start assessment and basic interventions, which eases pressure on NHS resources.”
Dr Tim Johnson from Cardiff University, overseeing medical students, noted that exercises like this provide invaluable real-world learning for students entering the medical profession. “It’s a simulation, not theatre,” he said. “Seeing where the process doesn’t work perfectly is just as important, it’s how learning happens.”
Debriefing and embedding lessons
As the exercise concluded, Richard outlined the structured debrief process. Teams feed feedback into hot debriefs, which are collated the next day in a multi-agency meeting, and then reviewed in a formal structured debrief weeks later. Lessons are incorporated into risk registers and the JESIP joint online learning repository, ensuring improvements are embedded in future operations.
Richard, with just one year left before retirement, remains passionately committed to improving training and inter-agency collaboration. “Even small changes across agencies can have a significant impact on public safety,” he told me.
Operation Tendley 2 offered a fascinating insight into multi-agency coordination, the evolution of ten second triage, and the practical embedding of JESIP principles. The whole day underscored the critical importance of practice, communication, and continuous learning in emergency response.
Seeing JESIP principles and ten second triage in action hammered home how vital shared language, structured huddles, and realistic training are for keeping both responders and the public safe. Beyond the procedures and protocols, it was clear that exercises like Tendley 2 build confidence, trust, and resilience across all services – a reminder that preparation and collaboration save lives.
Find out more in this bonus episode of For Every Response.
