Non-Subscriber Extract
Prepared for attack
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| 11 August 2005 |
By Eve Pertile
Your skin becomes inflamed and starts to blister, your eyes begin to swell and you vomit, as discharge falls from your nose. These are the symptoms of damaging chemical agents such as mustard gas and their effects are likely to be immediate.
Around 7,000 officers across the UK - five per cent of the strength of the service - are now trained to deal with a chemical attack of this kind. But what does the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) matters make of the service's present ability to deal with any such incident?
"I am confident that the equipment officers have is the best we can provide and the tactics we have, with the experience we have, are again the best we can provide,' says Richard Stowe, who works on policy and procedure for the UK capability for CBRN matters.
ACPO is currently working with the Home Office to put together a national CBRN plan and this was scheduled for discussion before the bombings last month, according to Mr Stowe, an assistant chief constable at Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.
He adds: 'We know there already has been a CBRN attack attempt by Kamel Bourgass, who was convicted [in April] of trying to poison the public with ricin [and of murdering DC Stephen Oake, of Greater Manchester Police]. So it has occurred already - the reality is there."
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