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| Fire crews mock-up tube station collapse to train for emergency | Fire crews mock-up tube station collapse to train for emergency |
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| Emergency crews in London are taking part in the biggest disaster training exercise ever seen in Europe at a specially constructed “scene” mimicking the aftermath of a tower block collapsing into a London underground station. | Emergency crews in London are taking part in the biggest disaster training exercise ever seen in Europe at a specially constructed “scene” mimicking the aftermath of a tower block collapsing into a London underground station. |
| More than 250 personnel are working at the scene and in a specially constructed temporary mortuary during the four-day exercise at a disused power station in Dartford, Kent. | More than 250 personnel are working at the scene and in a specially constructed temporary mortuary during the four-day exercise at a disused power station in Dartford, Kent. |
| The exercise, Unified Response, is coordinated by the London fire brigade working with more than 70 partner agencies including local councils, utility companies and specialist search and rescue teams to respond to the “disaster” at a reconstructed Waterloo station. | |
| Disaster victim identification (DVI) teams from all UK police regions are working alongside other forensic specialists. | Disaster victim identification (DVI) teams from all UK police regions are working alongside other forensic specialists. |
| Specially trained teams from around the UK were deployed to assist in emergency operations following the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in July 2014 and the Shoreham air crash in August last year. | |
| Ch Const Debbie Simpson, of the National Police Chiefs Council, said: “Victim identification is never a pleasant subject to discuss but it is unfortunately a reality. When disaster strikes families need to be confident that the authorities are doing everything they can to identify their loved ones in a dignified and respectful way, whilst supporting any criminal investigation. | Ch Const Debbie Simpson, of the National Police Chiefs Council, said: “Victim identification is never a pleasant subject to discuss but it is unfortunately a reality. When disaster strikes families need to be confident that the authorities are doing everything they can to identify their loved ones in a dignified and respectful way, whilst supporting any criminal investigation. |
| “Importantly this process cannot be hurried. As frustrating as this can sometimes be, especially in a world of fast-paced mainstream and social media, we have to be meticulous in our approach to ensure we achieve reliable scientific identification. | |
| “It’s not often we get to test working practices on such a scale and it’s really positive to see so many of our European colleagues involved. Effective evaluation and debriefing will help highlight good practice and any areas for development.” | “It’s not often we get to test working practices on such a scale and it’s really positive to see so many of our European colleagues involved. Effective evaluation and debriefing will help highlight good practice and any areas for development.” |