Full Breakdown
Derbyshire Police Fined for Safety Failures During Riot Training
1/21/2026, 1:44:29 AM
Incident Overview: Injuries from Riot Training
Derbyshire Constabulary has been fined £60,000 following an incident during riot training in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on February 2, 2021, where four officers sustained burns from petrol bombs. The training exercise, designed to simulate public disorder scenarios, involved officers facing petrol bombs thrown by their colleagues. Out of the 13 participants, four officers suffered lower body injuries, with three requiring hospital treatment. Although all returned to work, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that the injuries resulted in permanent scarring and lasting psychological harm.
Health and Safety Violations
The HSE's investigation revealed that Derbyshire Constabulary failed to adequately assess and mitigate the risks associated with the training. Key violations included insufficient information provided to officers regarding the lifespan and care of their flame-retardant personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as a lack of a suitable risk assessment for the production and deployment of petrol bombs. The HSE criticized the force for not implementing safe systems of work to control foreseeable risks during the training exercise.
Official Statements and Responses
HSE Inspector Jennifer Elsegood emphasized the importance of safety in high-risk training, stating, "High-risk training activities must be planned and controlled with the same care and professionalism expected in any other workplace." She added that the risks created by the training should have been identified and managed through proper risk assessments.
Derbyshire's Chief Constable Rachel Swann acknowledged the seriousness of the injuries and the failures in risk assessment. She stated, "We recognise that the risk assessments should have been regularly reviewed and updated and acknowledge that in failing to do so, officers were put at risk." Swann noted that while the injuries were serious, they were not directly linked to the inadequacies that led to the court case, asserting that no criticism was directed at the use of PPE by the constabulary.
Criticism and Lessons Learned
The incident has drawn attention to the need for rigorous safety protocols in police training. Critics argue that the failures highlight systemic issues within the training practices of law enforcement agencies. Swann indicated that the constabulary has since worked to improve safety measures, stating, "We have learned the lessons from this failure and since 2021 have worked hard to ensure that the risks associated with the more dangerous elements of work for which we must prepare our officers are reduced to the lowest possible level."
Conclusion: Implications for Future Training
The case serves as a reminder of the critical importance of thorough risk assessments and equipment assurance in police training. As law enforcement agencies continue to prepare officers for high-risk situations, ensuring their safety must remain a top priority. The findings from this incident may influence future training protocols across police forces in the UK.