Agenda item

To receive any verbal updates from Partners and Community Groups present, including:

·       Police – Neighbourhood Teams

·       Fire & Rescue

·       Youth - LYN

To note the following written updates attached to the agenda:

a)    Police

b)    Fire

b) Wiltshire Council Items for Information

c) CCG

d) Healthwatch Wiltshire

Note: Speakers are reminded that they each have a 3 minutes slot, unless they have previously discussed alternative arrangements with the Community Area Manager.

The Board noted the written updates attached to the agenda, and received the following verbal updates from partners present:

Police – Inspector Pete Sparrow

This Area Board has not been organised specifically to talk about the recent events in Amesbury and Salisbury, there are however two public meetings next week where you will have an opportunity to raise concerns and ask questions.

There will be one at Salisbury City Hall next Tuesday (24 July) from 6.30pm, and one next Wednesday (25 July) at The Stonehenge School, Amesbury, from 6.30pm.

Inspector Sparrow then gave a brief update on the position from Wiltshire Police.

We know that our communities here in Amesbury and Salisbury are naturally feeling very anxious and we completely understand these concerns. However, the message from Public Health England continues to be that the risk to the public remains low. This is being continually assessed and if there was any concern then that advice would be updated. At the moment Public Health are advising people that the key message from them is “If you didn’t drop it, don’t pick it up”.

Inspector Sparrow had personally been out and about in Salisbury and Amesbury with staff from Public Health over the past week or so, providing reassurance and answering questions from the public. He had been really impressed by the continued resilience that local people were showing and wanted to say a big thank you for the ongoing support they were giving to Wiltshire Police and other emergency services.

There was a Freephone helpline for advice and information which was staffed by Wiltshire Police and PHE colleagues. This was 0800 0920 410 or 0207 158 0124.

In addition, if you have any information which you believe could help the counter terrorism police investigation, then please call the CT hotline on 0800 789 321.

We know many of you will have questions about specifics relating to the ongoing investigation, however the investigation was being led by Counter Terrorism Police, so we are very limited in what we are able to tell people. CT policing were giving updates as often as they were able regarding the progress of their investigation.

However, Inspector Sparrow was able to share that more than 400 exhibits had been recovered, and more than 100 specialist officers had been deployed on this investigation.

CT police had also recovered a small bottle from the address in Muggleton Road and detectives believed this to be the source of the contamination, substance confirmed as Novichok, of Charlie Rowley and Dawn Sturgess.

Work was ongoing to establish whether the nerve agent was from the same batch as used in the attack against Sergei and Yulia Skripal in March, and this of course remains a main line of enquiry for the investigation team.

Searches were still expected to continue for some time yet, as officers look to identify any other potential sites or sources of contamination, as well as gather further evidence to assist with their investigation.

I can reassure you that Wiltshire Police will be doing all it can to assist CT Police, so that we can hopefully get some answers about what exactly happened and who is responsible for this barbaric act.

If you have any concerns or questions for any of the agencies involved, I would encourage you to attend one of the special public meetings next week where there will be representation from all agencies.

Questions and comments included:

• Peter Edge – It is important to note that Wilton is close to Salisbury and there has been a knock-on effect to our businesses in Wilton, not as bad as in Salisbury but there has been a noticeable downturn in footfall. Answer: We are aware of the effect on the surrounding towns and villages. We have been looking at footfalls and percentages, we will make sure Wilton is on the list of affected areas.
• Cllr Pauline Church – As the Cabinet Member for Salisbury recovery – if any business feels that they have been impacted on by these incidents we want to know, we have had just over £1 million of help from central government. Go to the Council website for information and to complete a form for financial recuperation. It will be assessed and if appropriate you will be awarded a grant.
• What indications have there been that the tourist industry has been affected? – Answer: There is a reported downturn in numbers at the Cathedral and the Playhouse. We are working closely to help rebrand to improve tourism.
• Cllr Jose Green – We are stoic as a community – 4 months was quite a time after the first incident, how long will it be before we are back to normality? – Answer: You can look at what we have done so far and how long that has taken, look at the recovery process so far. We hope that Zizi’s and The Bishops Mill sites could be back on line soon. The people working in those establishments are happy for the thoroughness we have taken in cleaning those premises, and feel reassured. After we have followed all lines we can we will move on to rebranding and relaunching.
• Is Charlie’s prognosis good? - Answer: The hospital is pleased with how he is doing, so that is good to hear.
• Pete Sparrow – the process to take samples involves, first the Offices who volunteer must go into the robing chamber, where it can reach 40 degrees. They must put on full kit and can take 40 mins to robe up. They then go in groups of 6 or 8 and can only stay in for 15 minutes at a time. Then 40 mins to de-robe. These officers have to have blood taken before they go in and after they come out to ensure they are not contaminated. That is why the process takes so long.
• Steve Bannass – What radius to Salisbury does the message ‘if you didn’t drop it then don’t pick it up’ apply? Answer: This advice is primarily focused on Salisbury and Amesbury. We have talked about a wider are, but the rest of the county just need to take obvious precautions. If you normally have grabbers and gloves to carry out your litter picks, then follow your normal procedures.
• Cllr Bridget Wayman – Quidhmpton queried this, and presumably they should not do a litter pick as they are so close to Salisbury? Answer: It’s a judgement for each area to make, they should think about their distance and what they feel comfortable doing. The advice is talking about containers. General litter would not have been used to bring a nerve agent in to the country. At this time we feel we have the original bottle that brought t in, but we cannot be sure. If you see a small vile or a syringe then don’t pick it up, call the numbers and we will come and do it.
• Cllr Church – Quidhampton is next to Salisbury, so I would say don’t do litter picking at this time.

The Board noted the written updates attached to the agenda.