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‘No regulator’ at large events to ensure adequate first aid provision Published Date: 14/01/2022

Mark Norris from the Local Government Association told the Manchester Arena Inquiry there was no regulator "as such and that leaves a gap in this particular area".

He said local councils often relied on the venues themselves when issuing a premises licence.

"They will require them to make provisions, for example, for first aid, but will not specify what skill levels you would need or how many people you would need," he said.

"They would expect that to be done by the event organiser themselves."

The inquiry previously heard claims that first aid provision at the arena at the time of the attack was not up to standard.

Counter Terrorism Policing Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist told a hearing policies now provided "a flexible tool" for quick deployment.

He said front-line PCs would also soon be trained in advanced first aid.

"From a personal view, if you are in a situation where there are either armed or unarmed officers or indeed members of the public providing first aid and emergency life support to victims, then that should be the moment for NHS staff and indeed fire (officers) to be moving forward and supporting that effort," he said.

The inquiry had previously heard that many of the first police officers on the scene at the arena said their basic first aid training was inadequate to deal with the catastrophic injuries they faced.

The inquiry also heard that many armed police units were now carrying first aid "drop bags" that could be left at the scene of an attack for use by initial responders.

Source: BBC