Coroner’s Inquests into the

London Bombings of 7 July 2005Ron Dobson – London Fire Commissioner

ALDGATE KINGS CROSS

EDGWARE ROAD TAVISTOCK SQUARE

• Evidence heard by Assistant Deputy Coroner for Inner West London, the Rt. Hon. Lady Justice Hallett

• Inquest dates announced on 23 July 2010

• London Fire Brigade granted Interested Person status in May 2010

• Inquest commenced on 11 October 2010 and concluded on 4 March 2011

• Very intense period in researching and preparing staff at all levels.

• Evidence submitted by London Fire Brigade

• 36 staff called to give evidence

• 16 member of staff’s evidence read out in Court

• Traumatic period for all staff, particularly those called to give evidence

• Coroner recognised the particularly traumatic nature of the proceedings.

The emergency response was to be looked at in the context of survivability and whether, in respect of each of those who survived for a short period of time and then later died, there were any failings or delay in the part of the emergency service response which was causative of, or contributed to, their deaths.

Rule 43 letter contains nine recommendations of which five relate to the London Resilience Partnership in London.

Recommendations cover:

1. Multi-agency training for frontline staff

2. Protocols for declaring major incidents, particularly on the London Underground

3. Arrangements for identifying and communicating initial rendezvous points.

Recommendations cover:

4. Arrangements for confirming that the traction current is off

5. Funding for specialist emergency medical care in London

“No recommendations specific to the London Fire Brigade response”.

Other issues for London Fire Brigade:

• London Fire Brigade Operational Discretion

• The use of ‘plain English’.

National Fire and Rescue Service considerations:

• Multi-agency planning, training and awareness

• Protocols and procedures for specific risks

• Resource demands of inquests and inquiries

• Fire and Rescue service operational discretion

• Financial cost at least £847,000.

ALDGATE KINGS CROSS

EDGWARE ROAD TAVISTOCK SQUARE

Coroner’s Inquests into the

London Bombings of 7 July 2005Ron Dobson – London Fire Commissioner