Portsmouth locations including The Wedgewood Rooms, the Historical Dockyard and Drift Southsea have been given the tools to respond to terror attacks.
Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, in partnership with Portsmouth City Council, have funded Guardian Response and Incident Packs (GRIP) for various locations across the city to support Martyn’s Law.
Formerly known as The Terroism (Protection of Premises) Bill, Martyn’s Law is currently going through Parliament. It aims to better protect the public, and public venues, by improving preparedness for attacks and having systems in place to keep people safe.
The Bill is named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
GRIP kits, provided by Fareham-based company Forseti Training, are being distributed to locations including The Hard Interchange, The Wedgewood Rooms, Lakeside, The Botanical Port Solent, the Historic Dockyard, the Civic Offices, and Drift Southsea.
Each kit includes a trauma bleed kit, a first aid kit, a portable defibrillator capable of delivering over 20 shocks, a pocket mask, burn gel sachets, and a foil blanket.
PCC Donna Jones said: “My role as Police Commissioner is to ensure safer communities. Public safety is of the utmost importance because acts of terrorism can occur at venues and sites at any time. Providing these GRIP kits gives these businesses in Portsmouth the ability to respond quickly to such an event with the equipment and the training to cope with the aftermath as well.
“We are making sure that those on the frontline are trained and prepared to have the best possible chance to protect the public and to save lives. By working together, we are creating a safer environment for both the staff working in these premises and for the public visiting these premises.”
Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, added: “Our city should be a place where everyone feels safe. By working in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner to introduce the GRIP kits, we want to increase everyone’s confidence to recognise and respond to incidents.”
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