Incidents involving firearms
The police must be called for all incidents involving firearms. It is probable that the police will use an armed response vehicle to deal with such incidents. FiA procedures to be followed will vary depending on whether the firearm is being used in a threatening manner or not.
Non-threatening, such as service user shows staff member or volunteer a firearm
• Staff member or volunteer becomes aware that a service user is in possession of a firearm.
• No threats are being made to use it on him/herself or others.
• No volatile behaviour demonstrated from user possessing firearm.
The procedure in these circumstances is:
• Inform the Project Manager.
• Inform entire staff/volunteer team.
• Call 999 from the FiA mobile, give service user description (name, clothing, height, weight, age, race, build).
• Describe weapon.
• Give relevant background information on service user if known (such as addiction, mental illness, previous incidents).
• Give details of environment where service user is located (such as back of main hall, near entrance) and approximate number of service users in hall.
• Emphasise that silent approach by police is needed, that is no sirens, no uniformed police bursting through doors. This could escalate a situation unnecessarily.
• Follow instructions from the police.
• Do not evacuate the hall.
• Remain calm and avoid panic.
Threatening, such as service
user points gun at self
or others
• Staff member or volunteer becomes aware that a service user is in possession of a firearm.
• Threats are being made to use it on him/herself or others.
• Volatile behaviour is being demonstrated by a service user possessing firearms.
The procedure in these circumstances is:
• Inform the Project Manager.
• Inform entire staff/volunteer team.
• Call 999 from the FiA mobile.
• Remain calm and avoid panic.
• Evacuate the hall and move service users, volunteers, staff and visitors to a safe distance. Evacuated people should be a minimum of 100 yards from the Drop-In.
• Give service user description (name, clothing, height, weight, age, race, build).
• Describe weapon.
• Give relevant background information on service user if known, (such as addiction, mental illness, previous incidents).
• Give details of environment of service user and circumstances (such as back of main hall, near entrance, any hostages, injuries).
• Do not under any circumstances re-approach the service user.
• Follow instructions from the police.
Incident involving other offensive weapons
If staff or volunteers become aware that a service user is in possession of knife, they should be excluded, using the procedures outlined in the FiA exclusion policy.
The police need to be informed of the following situations:
• Threatening behaviour involving a knife, glass, chain, screwdriver, etc. – dial 999 from the FiA mobile.
• Service user in possession of a knife and displaying volatile behaviour – inform Wimbledon police station.
