22124 - Weirs and Rivers

Ref: FOI/22124

RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST  

West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information requested on 2^nd November 2022

Please find below a summary of our findings.

Request.

Have you ever been to an incident involving a river weir (low-head dam)?

Have you received training on how to conduct a rescue from a weir?

How many incidents involving a weir have you been to?

Put simply, what does this training consist of?

Are you given specific operational equipment for use in weir rescue?

Reply

This information is exempt under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as this information is reasonably accessible to the requestor. Information concerning our river weir incidents/training can be found on West Midlands Fire Service website at the following link: https://www.wmfs.net/foi/22128-water-rescue

Request

Do you believe the training to be adequate in conducting weir rescue?

With the training you’ve received, would you feel confident conducting a rescue from a weir?

Do you believe weirs to be a significant risk to the public?

Do you believe that the fire service communicates the dangers of weirs adequately to the public?

Do you believe the Fire Service policies and operations in regard to weirs are adequate in both training and keeping Fire Service personal safe during a rescue?

Would you like to see an update in policies and procedures for dealing with weir rescue?

Reply

West Midland Fire does not hold the information, and this is therefore exempt under Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The service works within the guidance from the National Fire Chief's Council and please see link below:

https://www.ukfrs.com/guidance/water-rescue

If you have any queries about this freedom of information request, please contact us.  Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House