PSNI officers provide support to Manchester and London following terror attacks

By Maria McCann

Four hostage and crisis negotiators with the PSNI have travelled to Manchester to support colleagues after last month's suicide bombing.

The high risk search and arrest operations led to the arrest of three terrorist suspects.

Detective Inspector Connie Hampton, who is a full-time Counter Terrorism Negotiator within the PSNI, took on the role of Command Negotiator Advisor.

She explained: “We received a call asking for regional assistance and I flew over that Friday along with an operational team of three PSNI Negotiators.

“My role was to advise the Counter Terrorism Commander on negotiation options to assist their arrest operations.

“Meanwhile, my three colleagues were forward deployed on the ground with Counter Terrorism Specialist Firearms Officers who were conducting high risk search and arrest operations. These are highly dynamic and potentially unpredictable operations. Negotiators have an essential role in assisting specialist firearms colleagues to complete these operations in the safest way possible.

“The PSNI team was deployed to assist in house entry and arrest operations leading to the arrest of three terrorist suspects.

“For two 12 hour periods we provided the main negotiator expertise for the entire Manchester operation.

^{DI Connie Hampton and some of the Hostage Negotiator team who travelled to Manchester.}

DI Hampton described the experience as one she will never forget: “Although we have been trained to deal with all eventualities, we are used to dealing with terrorist and paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland so this was the first time we had put our international counter terrorism training into practice.

“We were very honoured to have been able to bring our expertise to help arrest those who are suspected of having the capability of making this horrific bomb and carrying out such a cruel and indiscriminate attack. The focus is on bringing them to justice, on behalf of the victims and their families, for this terrible and heartless atrocity, which targeted mostly children and young people.

“I feel very proud to represent the PSNI in offering assistance in situations like Manchester. In Northern Ireland we have, sadly, seen many horrific situations over the years and being able to help and deploy a really strong, competent and capable team to colleagues who are under immense strain, is something that makes me feel proud.”

Meanwhile, officers have also been providing support and assistance following last weekend's London terrorist attack.

They have been taking calls on a dedicated helpline from concerned members of the public

The service says they were were speaking to people who have usually exhausted all avenues in finding their loved ones - and that they were trying to reduce the anguish of people desperate to find loved ones.

Chief Inspector Natalie Wilson from the PSNI’s Casualty Bureau said: “Our role is to contribute to the overall response to a major incident. We are one of a number of Casualty Bureau across the UK and we work together as a network. The focus is very much on providing ‘mutual aid’ to other police forces and each Casualty Bureau is ‘switched on’ as and when a greater level of assistance is requested.

“Early on Sunday morning, we were asked for support after the attack in London and we had the Bureau staffed within 15 minutes of that request coming through.

“Every incident or emergency situation is different, but the calls we take are from those people who have usually exhausted all avenues in finding their loved ones. On a very human level, what we do is about reducing the anguish of those people desperate to locate their friends or relatives.”