Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is now better equipped to deal with a terrorist attack, inspectors have said following criticism last year. Inspectors have removed a 'cause for concern' relating to the service.
In December, a report by a government inspector said the service remained unprepared to respond effectively to a terrorist attack, four years after the Arena bombing. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said at the time: "While Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service does have its own specialist MTA (Marauding Terrorist Attack) response, we have concerns about its sustainability.
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"The agreement in place is short term, and at the time of our inspection it was due to run out. The service has made repeated attempts to resolve this issue locally.
"We are also concerned that the training of non-specialist firefighters for MTAs has been suspended. This could affect how firefighters work alongside other blue light responders. If they aren’t following the same procedures, public safety could be compromised."
At the inquiry into the bombing of Manchester Arena, GMFRS was severely criticised for its response on the night of the attack. Firefighters, including a team with specialist training for such an event, were held back from scene for two hours.
As reported in the Manchester Evening News in April, the region's firefighters were given a pay rise after agreeing to extra training to respond to terror attacks. The move ended a bitter dispute.
Now all firefighters in Greater Manchester and London have agreed to respond to Marauding Terrorist Attacks (MTA) after a ballot of members by the Fire Brigades Union - the only services in the UK to do so. Negotiations are continuing regarding other brigades. Previously, GMFRS firefighters had volunteered for specialist terror training.
MTAs are incidents in which terrorists with a firearm rampage through an area aiming to find and kill or injure as many as possible. If firefighters respond to MTA incidents, they may be asked to help with the evacuation of casualties as well as firefighting.
The agreements struck by GMFRS and London will see the provision of appropriate training and equipment, which will include ballistic protection, including ballistic helmets and goggles. Firefighters will also receive a two per cent pay rise.
In 2019, a 60-strong team of GMFRS firefighters specially trained to deal with terror attacks was broken up after a six-year dispute between and union and brigade bosses. It meant that if there was an attack, the region would be partly reliant on back-up from a Merseyside-based team - more than 30 miles away.
MFRS said: "Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is pleased to share the news that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has removed the Cause of Concern which it placed on the Service in 2021.
"In the public interest, HMICFRS independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire and rescue services, and during its last inspection of GMFRS expressed concerns about the Service’s capability in relation to responding to terrorist incidents.
"Since that time, GMFRS has made huge progress to develop its operational capability in responding to incidents involving Marauding Terrorist Attacks (MTA) and large numbers of casualties with three-day MTA training underway since April 2022. The training includes a two-day trauma course and a full day practical session made up of various scenarios involving partner agencies.
"Training is taking place at GMFRS’ Training and Safety Centre and is expected to be complete by April 2023, at which point more than 1,100 operational crews and officers will have completed the training."
Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Ben Norman, said: “As GMFRS strives to become a modern, flexible and resilient fire and rescue service, it is investing in what matters most to the Service: its people, its communities, and its future – ensuring it is prepared to respond to any type of emergency.
“The safety of our communities and our colleagues is our priority. Our firefighters are being provided with the right training and kit to keep themselves safe whilst delivering the crucial emergency support needed in whatever situation they may find themselves in.
“By April 2023 we will equip every fire appliance in Greater Manchester with specialist equipment to support a timely and effective multi-agency response to a Marauding Terrorist Attack or a Mass Casualty Rescue incident.”
He added: "Thanks to positive collaboration between GMFRS and the Fire Brigades’ Union and the signing of a collective agreement in April 2022, our new MTA capability will ensure our firefighters and officers are safe, while significantly improving the response we will be able to provide in the event of a terrorist attack or a casualty rescue.”
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