Emergency services take part in anti-terrorism exercise

A large anti-terrorism exercise recently took place at an undisclosed location in West Berkshire

EMERGENCY services in Berkshire and across the region took part in a large anti-terrorism exercise to prepare for an unspecified event and to strengthen cross-agency cooperation at an undisclosed location in West Berkshire last week.

Thames Valley Police (TVP), who coordinated the exercise on February 16 and 17, gave little information away, citing national security as the reason for their secrecy, but confirmed that they had been preparing for a major incident.

They also confirmed that the agencies that took part included themselves, the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS), Hampshire Constabulary and West Midlands Police.

In a meeting of the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority last Thursday (18), RBFRS chief fire officer, Iain Cox, said: “There was a major multiagency counter terrorism exercise in Berkshire. It was successful in the way that many exercises are successful in that we learned a lot, but as always, there are ways that we can improve.”

The police force said the event played out at various police premises and Ministry of Defence buildings near Reading and was codenamed Long Barrow.

It involved volunteers, who played the role of injured people, and dummies were used as bodies.

Exercises of this nature are held three times a year in various parts of the country.

TVP spokeswoman Kate Fairbairn said that although the different agencies were aware that the exercise was going to take place, they were not told when or where, or what it was they would have to respond to.

She said: “Planning for the exercise commenced last year. It has not been prompted by any specific past, present or anticipated events.

“It is the statutory duty, in accordance with the Civil Contingencies Act, that all agencies prepare and practice for a major incident.

The co-ordinator of the exercise, TVP's Neil Olney, said: “This exercise has made us better prepared for dealing with major incidents and was a very good learning experience for all involved.”