Derbyshire Constabulary has been ordered to pay a substantial fine of £60,000 following a serious incident during riot training exercises that left multiple officers with burn injuries. The case, heard at Sheffield Magistrates' Court, highlights significant failures in health and safety protocols within police training operations.
Training Exercise Goes Wrong
During a riot training session conducted in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on 2 February 2021, thirteen officers participated in exercises involving petrol bombs. Tragically, four of those officers sustained lower body burns when the devices were deployed against them. While all officers were wearing flame-retardant protective gear, investigators found critical shortcomings in how this equipment was utilised.
Health and Safety Failures Identified
The Health and Safety Executive conducted a thorough investigation into the incident and identified multiple systemic failures. Officers were not provided with adequate information about how to properly use their protective gear, leaving them exposed to what the HSE described as "significant and avoidable risks."
Furthermore, the risk assessment conducted prior to the training was deemed insufficient for activities involving "the production and deployment of petrol bombs." The constabulary failed to implement safe systems of work that would have controlled the foreseeable dangers associated with such high-risk training scenarios.
Lasting Impact on Officers
The consequences for the injured officers have been severe and enduring. Three required hospital treatment for their burns, though all have since returned to work. The HSE report noted that the officers suffered permanent scarring and lasting psychological harm as a result of the incident, underscoring the human cost of the safety failures.
Court Proceedings and Response
Derbyshire Constabulary pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws during Monday's court hearing. In addition to the £60,000 fine, the force was ordered to pay £9,470 in costs. HSE inspector Jennifer Elsegood emphasised that while training police for dangerous situations is essential, "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," Elsegood stated. "The risks created by the training should have been identified as part of the constabulary's risk assessments and appropriately controlled."
Force Leadership Responds
Derbyshire's Chief Constable Rachel Swann acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating that the force has taken the matter "very seriously" and has "learned the lessons from this failure." She clarified that the inadequate risk assessments specifically related to the handling, transport and delivery of petrol, rather than directly to the injuries suffered by officers.
"We recognise that the risk assessments should have been regularly reviewed and updated and acknowledge that in failing to do so officers were put at risk, and we have apologised to those involved," Chief Constable Swann added. "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."
The case serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of rigorous safety protocols in police training environments, particularly when dealing with potentially dangerous materials and scenarios designed to simulate real-world riot situations.
