Police force fined for failing to protect officers during riot training exercise

An investigation into the incident by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in 2021 found that the officers had been exposed to “significant and avoidable risks” during the exercise.

This month (19 January), Derbyshire Constabulary pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The force was fined £60,000 and ordered to pay £9,470 in costs at Sheffield Magistrates Court.

According to the HSE, four serving police officers suffered burns after petrol bombs were thrown at them during the simulated exercise at a training facility in Rotherham on 2 February 2021.

Officers wearing flame-retardant personal protective equipment (PPE) had been required to face petrol bombs thrown by other officers as part of a training drill intended to replicate a public disorder situation.

However, it resulted in four of the 13 officers taking part sustaining burns to their lower bodies, three of whom required hospital treatment.

The HSE noted: “All four have since returned to work, but the incident resulted in permanent scarring, and psychological harm which will have a lasting effect.”

Following investigation, the watchdog found that Derbyshire Constabulary had “failed to properly plan and risk assess the exercise”.

Key failings included:

• Failing to give officers adequate information on the lifespan, care, and inspection of the flame retardant PPE to ensure it provided adequate protection.
• Failing to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for both the production and deployment of petrol bombs during the training.
• Failing to implement safe systems of work to control the foreseeable risks created in the course of petrol reception training.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Jennifer Elsegood, said: “Being a serving police officer is a job that carries with it levels of risk, however while preparing officers for dangerous situations is important, it must never come at the expense of their safety.

“High‑risk training activities must be planned and controlled with the same care and professionalism expected in any other workplace. The risks created by the training should have been identified as part of the Constabulary’s risk assessments and appropriately controlled.

“We hope this case reinforces the importance of thorough risk assessment, robust equipment assurance, and safeguarding those who put themselves forward to protect the public.”

Derbyshire's Chief Constable Rachel Swann said: “In February 2021 an investigation was commenced by the HSE following an incident in training which led to the injury of four police officers. The injuries were suffered when the officers were involved in public order training which required the deployment of so-called ‘petrol bombs’.

“The injuries to the officers were serious and that officers were harmed during their training is something that has been taken very seriously.

“During the HSE’s enquiries it was identified that risk assessments that applied to the training were not adequate in terms of the way they structured the handling, transport and delivery of petrol.

“However, it was found that those risk assessments were not linked to the injuries suffered by the officers, which were believed to have occurred because of a failure of the personal protective equipment issued to them. No criticism has been made of Derbyshire Constabulary’s use of that equipment in this case."

Swann addded: “Derbyshire Constabulary co-operated fully with the HSE investigation and suspended training until the risk assessments were revised and robustly rewritten.

“[…] We recognise that the risk assessments should have been regularly reviewed and updated and acknowledges that in failing to do so officers were put at risk. We always look to prioritise the welfare of our staff and the public and this Court finding reflects our acknowledgement that on this occasion we failed to do so.”

Lottie Winson