TIDAL THAMES WATER SAFETY FORUM...Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum Drowning Prevention Strategy:...

Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum

Drowning Prevention Strategy: Accidental and Self Harm

Drowning Prevention StrategyMay 2019

TIDAL THAMES WATER SAFETY FORUM

ForewordI am delighted to support the TidalThames Water Safety Forum which bringstogether vital agencies across maritime,coastal and emergency services to keepthe tidal Thames safe for everyone. Ouraim is to reduce the number of avoidabledeaths from drowning in the tidalThames targeting a ‘zero harm’ policy.Stretching 95 miles from Teddington inthe west to the North Sea in the east, thetidal Thames is the UK’s busiest waterway, used all year round bycommercial and recreational vessels alike. It is iconic and itsbridges are known the world over.In 2018, 30 people drowned in the river, accounting for 8% ofdrowning-related deaths nationally. Over the year, there were 688recorded cases of people threatening to enter the Thames to taketheir life. 105 people actually entered the water, triggeringinterventions by the emergency services. As Minister for suicideprevention I see all these incidents as preventable. I amdetermined that we make our public areas safe and put in placeappropriate measures to reduce risk.Lasting positive change can only be achieved through clearleadership and close collaboration between policy makers,authorities and the public. It is imperative we succeed, to reducethe risks for all the capital’s residents and visitors and makeLondon the safest global city.I thank all of the people involved in the Forum and especially theprofessionals on the frontline who make lifesaving interventionson a daily basis and show such dedication to their duty.

Jackie Doyle-Price MPParliamentary Under Secretary of State for Mental Health,Inequalities and Suicide Prevention

May 2019


DROWNING PREVENTION STRATEGY Page 3

1. Background1. Background p2

Foreword p3

1.1 Membership p4

1.2 Scope p4

1.3 The London picture p4

1.4 Rising suicide rates p7

1.5 Coping with London’s growth p7

1.6 The case for community p9safety

2. Strategic objectives p10

2.1 Overview p11

2.2 Raising awareness p11

2.3 Tackle river-related suicide p12and self-harm drownings

2.4 Implement a robust, multi- p15layered programme to delivereducation and water safety totargeted groups and events

2.5 Continue to maintain and p17improve the SAR responseto incidents on the river

2.6 Ensure that safety is an p18intrinsic part of futuredevelopment

2.7 Establish the River Thames p19as an independentlyidentifiable risk area

3. Delivering the strategy p20

3.1 Tracking progress and p21delivery

4. Strategic summary p22

1.3: The London PictureEngland’s longest river, theThames is tidal from Teddingtonin west London out to the Thames Estuary. The tidal Thames is also the UK’s busiest waterway by asignificant margin.The Port of London is the UK’ssecond largest hub for the importand export of commercial freight.The river’s rich history and iconicskyline make it a magnet fortourists from around the world;recreational use of the river – forsailing, rowing, fishing andwalking and other sports are also growing rapidly.The Thames is also a challenging river, atwice daily tide sees the water levels riseand fall by up to 7 metres; flows reachspeeds of up to 5mph.Currently good management and well-maintained riversides mean the risk of fatal

accidents affecting the residents,commuters and tourists in the capital isrelatively low. But there is no room for complacency;projected growth of river usage – bothcommercial and recreational – pose aparallel increased risk of accidents anddeaths due to drowning.



1.1: Membership: The TTWSF involves the full range of regulators, emergency services andvoluntary groups involved in managing safety on the tidal Thames:


DROWNING PREVENTION STRATEGYPage 4

Purpose: To prevent accidental and self-harm drownings in the Thames by working in partnership to ensure consistent guidance for safe enjoyment and management of activities in, on and around the water.

Developed by representatives of theemergency services, regulatory bodies andvoluntary organisations involved inmanaging incidents on the Thames,this strategy outlines our priority actions, governance and how we will track progress.

It has been prepared partially as aresponse to the UK National DrowningPrevention Strategy, which aims to halveaccidental drowning fatalities in the UK by2026 and reduce risk amongst the highestrisk groups and communities.It will be a framework for TTWSF’s activitiesup to 2022.

Our Aim: To reduce the number of deaths in and on the tidal Thamesby targeting a strategy of ‘zero harm’.

1.2: Scope

London Fire Brigade: has a water-borne response capability, aswell as an extensive community outreach programme, part of whichfocusses on water safety.

HM Coastguard: Her Majesty’s Coastguard is the part of theMCA responsible for national maritime search and rescue; on theThames this is co-ordinated by London Coastguard.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI): a charity that saveslives at sea, whose operation extends along the tidal reaches of theThames, with stations providing cover as far upriver as Teddington.

400,000 lorries off London’s roads

INLAND WATERWAY FREIGHT

4 MILLION TONNES

TRAVEL SPORTINGEVENTS

food, fuel and manufactured goods;46,000 jobs, £6.4 billion value added

TRADE

MILLIONTONNES

£5 millionper annum

10 millionPASSENGER JOURNEYS

363

Twice daily tide sees the water levels rise and fall by up to 7 metres

Flows reach speeds of up to 5mph

Port of London 2019

Metropolitan Police Service: a 24/7 frontline marine policing responseunit, based on the river at Wapping.

London Ambulance Service: the NHS Trust coveringan area of about 620 square miles. Its Hazardous AreaResponse Teams (HART) provide paramedic care inenvironments beyond the capability of standard units.

Port of London Authority (PLA): the statutory harbour authorityfor the tidal Thames; a public trust, established to administer,preserve and improve the Port of London.

1.4: Rising suicide rates Suicide is the most frequent cause ofdrowning in the River Thames, accountingfor 90% of all deaths. Suicide related incidents account for approximately one half of the Search and

Rescue (SAR) missions on the river. Prevention measures are very limited, as resources are primarily focussed onrescue operations.



Suicide related incidentsaccount for approximately onehalf of the Search and Rescue(SAR) missions on the river

This strategy coincides with rapid growthin London’s population, which is set torise from 8.6 million today to 10 millionby 2035, and to 11 million by 2050. The growth is forecast to be concentratedin the east, much of it likely to be alongthe river. The Thames Estuary Growth Commissionis leading the development of a plan todeliver the infrastructure that will berequired to accommodate this expansionover the next three decades. The strategic transport network will need to be developed. Transport forLondon has proposed an additional 13crossings over the Thames, mostly in theeast of the capital.

The 2035 Thames VisionIn partnership with a broad range oforganisations linked to the river, the PLA has also developed the Thames Vision, an

ambitious set of goals designed tomaximise the commercial,social and recreationalpotential of the tidal river. The Vision goals for delivery by2035 include:

� Handling 60-80 milliontonnes of cargo.

� Carrying over 4 million tonnes ofgoods on the river.

� Doubling the number of peopletravelling by river to 20 million.

� Achieving greater participation in sport and recreation, on and alongsidethe water.

It goes without saying that all the goalsmust be achieved without compromisingsafety. All the contributors are committedto working together to make sure safetyis central to the Vision’s delivery.

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

02015 2016 2017 2018

362

110

38

530

96

29

687

118

37

688

105

30

Came to noticePersons in waterDeceased

1.5: Coping with London’s growth

The TTWSF will take a proactive approachto reducing drowning. There is significant evidence thatprevention is the key to reducing thelikelihood of incidents, injuries andfatalities.

There are three fundamentalstrands:

� Prevention – to minimise thelikelihood of an incidenthappening.

� Protection – to minimise thelikelihood of an incidenthappening through theappropriate design of bridges andwaterside developments, and theavailability of water rescueequipment.

� Response – the search and rescueelement on the Thames, when anincident occurs.

As identified in the Thames StrategicReview, there is limited scope to increasethe speed with which SAR units arecurrently deployed. This means an educational, supervisionand influencing approach, targeting usersof the river and its banks, is required toachieve the desired reduction in accidentsand lives lost in addition to furtherimprovements to safety on and alongsidethe river. The Water Accident Incident Database(WAID) shows that nationally half of thosewho drowned had no intention of being inthe water in the first place.

Activities often deemed as relatively safe –such as running and walking – mayactually be where the greatest risk lies. TheNational Water Safety Forum (NWSF)categorises these groups, including dogwalkers, as being at the highest risk ofdrowning. Simple interventions, such as advising dogwalkers to call the emergency servicesrather than follow their pets into the water,can make a big difference; whilst theanimals are usually able to get safely backto dry land, it is invariably their ownerswho get into difficulty.



The Water AccidentIncident Database showsthat nationally half ofthose who drowned had nointention of being in thewater in the first place

1.6: The case for community safety

2.1: Overview There is no single, miraculous, “cure all”remedy that can prevent any particulartype of fatality. The TTWSF intends to utilise the ‘RISE’(Rescue, Influence, Supervise and Educate)delivery model, developed by the RNLI.It requires all modes of protection to beaddressed, without one taking precedenceover another.

Using this philosophy, we aim to:

� Affect change by raising awarenessof self-harm and accidentaldrownings on the Thames withpolicy makers, regulators and thegeneral public.

� Support the development andimplementation of a programme toreduce the number of river-relatedsuicide and self-harm drownings.

� Implement a robust and multi-layered programme to delivereducation and water safety totargeted groups and events.

� Continue to maintain and improvethe SAR response to incidents onthe river.

� Ensure that safety is an intrinsicpart of all future development.

� Establish the River Thames as anindependent, identifiable risk area.

2.2: Raising AwarenessAchieving these objectives will require allthe organisations involved to worktogether. Tackling safety on the Thames in London isnot a new initiative, but we mustcollaborate even more effectively togetheracross organisations to gain momentumand save more lives. To be as effective as possible, the Forumand its work need to be visible andaccessible to all the organisations involved

and the public at large. There is strongpublic awareness around cycle and fire-related deaths in London in particular, butalso across the UK. Far fewer people areaware of the number of fatalities linked todrowning in the Thames.A priority for the Forum is to develop apublicity campaign, in conjunction withrelevant experts, to reverse this situationand be a catalyst for concerted, co-ordinated action. Self-harm is a subject many organisationsfeel is outside their remit; individuals alsofeel they are not empowered to act. Thismust change.

We will: � Raise the profile of the TTWSF

through positive engagementwith politicians, public bodies,decision-makers and the public.

� Raise awareness of the risks andhazards associated with theThames, educating all who live,work and visit.

� Understand and effect keybehaviour changes towards theThames.

� Influence and change policy tosupport the strategic aims andobjectives.



2. Strategicobjectives

Bridge WatchWe intend to support the development ofa programme that can emulate theWexford MarineWatch approach to directintervention at the ‘precipice’.Within the densely populated areas ofLondon, there are significantopportunities to work with key partnersand stakeholders including specialistcharities, to physically monitor andsupervise identified high risk areas, suchas the Thames bridges and piers. Thefocus is to directly engage withvulnerable individuals before they jumpinto the river and coach them to a placeof safety.

Along with the desire to develop aresource of trained volunteers with thecapability to directly make anintervention there is scope to addanother ‘layer of vigilance’. With minimalupskilling, existing personnel that work on or around the river can act asextra eyes to offer early alert tosomebody exhibiting the warning signsof mental crisis.



Every year the emergency services dealwith hundreds of calls relating to people incrisis, threatening to jump into the Thamesfrom bridges spanning the river or thefootpaths adjacent to it. Those affected do not always followthrough on their threats, but the statisticsremain alarming. Of the 688 cases reportedin 2018, 105 people entered the water and30 people died. The vast majority of those affected werefound to have ongoing mental healthissues, even if they had not directly statedan intention to complete suicide.

Intervention trainingThere is greater opportunity for last-minuteintervention when attempted suicidesoccur in public places. The first response is much more likely tocome from a passing stranger, rather thanfrom a family member, professional carer,or member of the emergency services. This makes it imperative that we equippeople from all walks of life with the skillsand confidence to intervene when they seea person in crisis in a public place. Replicating work successfully delivered byNetwork Rail for its partners, a training

programme for individuals living andworking near the Thames would be a majorstep forward in expanding the ranks ofpeople able to respond in this way. To this end, in consultation with all therelevant, qualified experts, we plan tofacilitate the development of anappropriate training programme. It would teach participants how torecognise a person in crisis, based on theirbehaviour, and how to summonappropriate help. Pier staff, marine crews, the emergencyservices and CCTV operators are amongthose groups who could be effectivelytargeted for training of this kind, toincrease the levels of monitoring andsupervision available at key locations.Members of the public could also beeducated on how to spot and intervene to help people in crisis, including whataction to take if a person has alreadyentered the water. It is vital to give members of the public theconfidence to intervene in such situationsand reassure them that they will besupported, whatever the outcome.


2.3: Tackle river-related suicide and self-harm drownings

Wexford MarineWatchWexford is a town in the South Easterncorner of Ireland sitting at the estuary ofthe River Slaney.Whilst a beautiful spot with a strongcommunity feel, Wexford has sufferedwith loss of life through suicide andaccidental drowning around the bridge,quay and harbour areas. According tothe best available information, onaverage between 2000 and 2012Wexford saw in excess of 3 deaths peryear in the water around the town.In response to this ongoing problemand a quick succession of suicide deathsthat sent shockwaves through thecommunity in 2012, the WexfordMarineWatch was established.Wexford MarineWatch sees patrols oftrained volunteers monitoring theharbour, bridge and quay areas duringthe key ‘at risk’ times. The volunteershave been trained in skills to intervenewith those suffering mental crisis as wellas basic water rescue skills. They are

supported extensively through localdonation and fundraising and criticallythrough close collaboration with theemergency services in the County ofWexford.The impact has been significant. In the6+ years (2012–2018) sinceMarineWatch was introduced thenumber of fatalities has beenreduced to 2 and the volunteer patrolshave been directly involved in 335incidents and intervened on 157separate occasions where people wereindicating their intent to enter the waterfor suicide.

Case study


We will:� Work with suicide prevention

organisations to develop asensitive and effective approachto tackling the issues ofaccidental and self-harmdrowning on the Thames.

� Promote life-savinginterventions by trainingcommunities linked to the riverin the skills necessary tosuccessfully intervene with aperson in crisis; and provideappropriate support toindividuals when they do.

� Work with the NHS, charities,riverside communities and eventorganisers to expand supervisionalong the Thames.

� In partnership with others,develop and deliver a strategy tosupport the high numbers ofpersons in crisis in and aroundthe Thames, to establish whatimmediate care, treatment andappropriate support is availablefor those affected.

� Change behaviours, in andaround the water, of those whoeither witness someone, or who are themselves sufferingmental crisis.



Case study

Mental health nurses &practitioners on patrol with police NHS mental health nurses andpractitioners have joined patrols byofficers from the various police forces.Two permanent teams of mental healthprofessionals are embedded withinBritish Transport Police, working acrossEngland and Wales. Nurses andpractitoners work directly alongsidepolice officers to assist in dealing withreferrals from incidents, and undertakeproactive patrols.

The City of London Police helpedpioneer the approach. The mental healthprofessionals accompany officers toincidents as they occur, meaning thatpeople showing signs of mental healthissues can be assessed on the spot by atrained professional and appropriatesteps taken immediately, ranging fromadmission to hospital, through toreferral to a GP or counsellor in lessurgent cases.Such knowledge sharing brings benefitsfor both the NHS and the police. Medicalprofessionals are alerted to incidentsthey may otherwise have been unawareof and officers can be informed if aperson is deteriorating, or likely tobecome an increased risk. Early indications also suggest thecollaboration leads to improved patientwelfare, more efficient use of NHSservices and a considerable reduction indetentions under the Mental Health Act.

The Thames is an integral part of London;we want residents and visitors alike to beable to enjoy the river and its surroundings,safely. By making those who live in, work in, orvisit London aware of the risks that theriver holds, we can reduce the number ofdrownings that occur each year. There is already excellent prevention worktaking place surrounding accidentaldrowning. TTWSF intends to build on this,utilising tools and campaigns alreadyavailable to ensure they are effective intackling the unique complexities of theThames.We will work with all interested parties tosupport further behavioural changesthrough water safety educationprogrammes.

There are five key areas of watersafety messaging:

� Advice for those who are near, butnot on the water such as dogwalkers and joggers.

� Advice for river users, such asrowers, sailors, paddle boardersand marine crews.

� Guidelines for people who spotsomeone in difficulty in the water.

� Self-rescue: what individualsshould do if they get into difficultyin the water.

� Guidance for event organisers.Some national campaigns havealready had a very positive impactand will continue to engage manyof our target audience.

RNLI’s Respect theWater – Float to Livecampaign, concentratedon ‘fighting your instinct,not the water’ to reducethe impacts of cold watershock.

Royal Life Saving Society’s Don’t Drinkand Drown campaign targets summerdrinkers, Christmas party goers andstudents during Fresher’s Week.

2.4: Implement a robust, multi-layered programme to delivereducation and water safety to targeted groups and events

DROWNING PREVENTION STRATEGYPage 16 DROWNING PREVENTION STRATEGY Page 17

Case study

When England hosted the Rugby World Cup in2015, the RNLI launched patrols close to riversidepubs in West London, immediately before andafter every match. This was a direct response to the increased risk offans seeking to swim in the river after drinkingalcohol, unaware of the risks posed by the life-threateningly cold temperature of river water andthe force of the tides.

Events and water safety awarenessThere has been a rapid increase in thenumber of social and sporting events onand around the River Thames annually,both planned and unplanned. Theseattract large and diverse crowds, from farand wide.On average there are 400 planned eventson the tidal Thames each year, rangingfrom firework displays to rowing regattasand sailing races. There is a need for a smarter and morerobust approach to safety, for bothparticipants and spectators. We will work collaboratively with eventorganisers during the planning phase, toidentify risks and timely, innovativesolutions, improving water safety for bothparticipants and spectators.

We will:� Help the public and river users to

save more lives throughcampaigns to change behaviour.

� Deliver a water safety educationprogramme, targeting schoolsand community groups.

� Establish improved proceduresfor the management of events onor near the river, to ensure thatorganisers fully factor the safetyof participants and spectatorsinto their plans.

In recent years the safety of spectatorswatching the Oxbridge University BoatRace, held annually on the River Thamesbetween Putney and Chiswick, has improvedsignificantly as a result of closer pre-eventcollaboration between the organisers, thePLA, the RNLI and Emergency Services. RNLI lifeguards steer crowds on the foreshoreaway from areas at risk from fast-rising tides,which in previous years have dangerously leftsome spectators stranded in the river.

Whilst the greatest gains in tackling thenumbers of fatalities on the river are to bemade through prevention and education,it remains critically important that SARcapabilities on the Thames are maintainedand improved. Dedicated Search and Rescue serviceswere introduced following theMarchioness disaster of 1989, in which 51people lost their lives.

SAR services on the tidal Thames now comprise:

� Her Majesty’s CoastguardOperating Centre; co-located at the PLA’s Control Room at theThames Barrier Navigation Centrein Woolwich.

� RNLI vessels. � London Fire Brigade water

rescue resources and land based appliances.

� Vessels operated by theMetropolitan Police’s Marine Unit.

� PLA vessels.� Commercial vessels.� Leisure craft.

Recent data shows a significant increase inrecorded SAR incidents.This trend is projected to continue, and willbe accelerated by population growth,additional riparian development andincreased use of the river. Advances in technology, staff turnover andlifestyle changes all underline thecontinuing need for SAR procedures to beregularly tested and rehearsed.

We will:� Establish a single database, to

provide accurate baselineinformation, enabling informed decisions to be made about SAR response.

� Eliminate all causes of timedelay, from initial alert of anincident to deploying aneffective response to the scene.

� Increase frequency of multi-agency planning exercises.

� Improve inter-agency debriefsand reviews when incidentsoccur.

2.5: Continue to maintain and improve the SAR response toincidents on the river

Case study






Improving the safety of existing bridges,waterside buildings, footpaths andrecreational areas is essential to reducingaccidental and self-harm drownings in thetidal Thames. RNLI data shows that between 2008 and2014, 68% of suicide attempts occurredfrom bridges, with 32% occurring from theriver bank or piers along the Thames. The data underlines the importance ofsecuring the support of key policy makers,developers and riverside land owners toinclude water safety considerations in theplanning of new developments. The extensive, planned development ofthe Thames, particularly in east London, isan opportunity to improve watersidedesign; it will require close collaborationwith the Mayor of London, the GreaterLondon Assembly and riparian boroughs.We will work closely with planners,designers, architects, developers andengineers to ensure river safety isintegrated into wider decision making anddesign out risks associated with new-buildinfrastucture.

Consideration must also be given affectingretrospective improvements to the design of bridges and riversideedges.There are a number of locationsthroughout the world where considerableimprovements have been made to existinginfrastructure with impressive results inreducing fatalities.

2.6: Ensure that safety is an intrinsic part of futuredevelopment

We will:� Educate and influence bridge

owners on the issue of suicide on theThames and the work undertaken totackle the issue at similar locations.

� Promote and where appropriateregulate the placement of publicrescue equipment at high risklocations and at new riversidedevelopments and crossings.

� Engage with riverside developersand riparian boroughs to improvethe provision of public life-savingequipment along the banks of theThames and fill in any gaps.

Case study

High-level suicide prevention barriersinstalled on the Prince EdwardViaduct in Toronto, Canadaincorporated 450 metres of colouredLED lights, which change to reflectfluctuations in air temperature, aswell as wind direction and velocity,creating a “living” piece of illuminatedpublic art.

There is currently no specific Thames RiskRegister available to help the relevantagencies design, plan and deliver theirprevention and response activities on thetidal Thames. Lord Harris’ recent review of the capital’spreparedness to respond to majorincidents highlighted the criticality of theRiver Thames as a transport hub forLondon. It urged the London ResilienceForum (LRF) to establish a sub-group toconsider resilience on the Thames.

We will:� Engage with the London

Resilience Forum to highlight therisk of accidental and self-harmdrowning on the Thames andestablish the Thames as aseparate risk area within London.

� Establish a Forum of partners todevelop a Thames Risk Register.

2.7: Establish the River Thames as an independentlyidentifiable risk area

Following the installation of barriers onthe Clifton Suspension Bridge inBristol in 1998, fatalities halved froman average of 8.2 per year (1994-1998)to 4 per year (1999-2003). At the same time there was noevidence of a parallel increase in malesuicide attempts from other sites in the Bristol area.

Case study


DROWNING PREVENTION STRATEGY Page 21DROWNING PREVENTION STRATEGYPage 20

Improving the safety of existing bridges,waterside buildings, footpaths andrecreational areas is essential to reducingaccidental and self-harm drownings in thetidal Thames. RNLI data shows that between 2008 and2014, 68% of suicide attempts occurredfrom bridges, with 32% occurring from theriver bank or piers along the Thames. The data underlines the importance ofsecuring the support of key policy makers,developers and riverside land owners toinclude water safety considerations in theplanning of new developments. The extensive, planned development ofthe Thames, particularly in east London, isan opportunity to improve watersidedesign; it will require close collaborationwith the Mayor of London, the GreaterLondon Assembly and riparian boroughs.Working together over the coming years isessential to turning this strategy intoreality. Development of the strategy hasbeen convened and led by the TTWSF, anddelivery falls to this Forum as well as awhole host of organisations and groups.Delivery will vary according to the priorityactions required to deliver the goals:

� The TTWSF will be leading some ofthe priority actions and asindividual organisations we areworking to ensure we are well-placed to deliver.

� In other cases, differentorganisations may take the leadsuch as charities directly involvedin suicide prevention.

� Others are working together tostrengthen the voice ofstakeholders on key decisionsaffecting the Thames, such as riveroperators and terminal operatorsworking alongside Governmentand national authorities to doublethe underlying intra-port freightcarried by water or to improve roadand rail access to the port.

� Some established meetings andgroups may need to consider morefocus of the issue on the Thames,championing mental health andwellbeing of Londoners. TheTTWSF will also work closely withthe GLA and local authorities indelivering the strategy.

3.1 Tracking progress anddelivery

Building on the co-design approach todeveloping the Vision, delivery willcontinue to be with a broad range oforganisations and partners. Each of the sixwork streams will be met through a rollingseries of time-bound priority actions withKey Performance Indicators (KPIs).Governance will use existing fora whereverpossible, for example the TTWSF andThames and London Waterways Forum, orconvening new groups where necessary.Progress will be reported against actionsthrough an annual report.

3. Delivering the strategy

TIDAL THAMES WATER SAFETY FORUMTIDAL THAMES WATER SAFETY FORUM

DROWNING PREVENTION STRATEGY Page 23DROWNING PREVENTION STRATEGYPage 22

Purpose: To prevent accidental and self-harm drownings in the Thames by working in partnership to ensure consistent guidance for safe enjoyment and management of activities in, on and aroundthe water.

Our Aim: To reduce the number of deaths in and on the tidal Thamesby targeting a strategy of ‘zero harm’.

4. Strategic summary

What we intend to do:

Raise the awareness ofself-harm andaccidental drowningson the Thames with keypolicy makers,stakeholders andgeneral public

Support thedevelopment andimplementation of aprogram to reduce thenumber of river relatedsuicide and self-harmdrownings

� Raise the profile of the TTWSF through positive engagementwith politicians, public bodies, decision-makers and thepublic.

� Raise awareness of the risks and hazards associated with theThames educating all who live, work and visit.

� Understand and affect key behaviour changes towards the Thames.

� Influence and change policy to support the strategic aimsand objectives.

� Work with suicide prevention organisations to develop asensitive and effective approach to tackling the issues ofaccidental and self-harm drowning on the Thames.

� Promote life-saving interventions by training communitieslinked to the river in the skills necessary to successfullyintervene with a person in crisis; and provide appropriatesupport to individuals that do.

� Work with the NHS, charities, riverside communities andevent organisers to expand supervision along the Thames tosupport an overall reduction in fatalities.

� In partnership with others, develop and deliver a strategy tosupport the high numbers of persons in crisis in and aroundthe Thames to establish what immediate care, treatment andappropriate support is available for those affected.

� Change behaviours, in and around the water, of those whoeither witness someone, or who are themselves suffering mental crisis.

How we intend to do it:

� Help the public and river users to save more lives throughcampaigns to change behaviour.

� Deliver a water safety education programme, targetingschools and community groups.

� Establish improved procedures for the management of events on or near the river, to ensure that organisers fully factor the safety of participants and spectators into their plans.

� Establish a single database, to provide accurate baselineinformation, enabling informed decisions to be made about SAR response.

� Eliminate all causes of time delay, from initial alert of anincident to deploying an effective response to the scene.

� Increase frequency of multi-agency planning exercises.� Improve inter-agency debriefs and reviews when

incidents occur.

� Educate and influence bridge owners on the issue of suicideon the Thames and the work undertaken to tackle the issue atsimilar locations.

� Promote and where appropriate regulate the placement ofpublic rescue equipment at high risk locations and at newriverside developments and crossings.

� Engage with developers and riparian boroughs to improvethe provision of public life-saving equipment along the banksof the Thames, and fill in any gaps.

� Engage with the London Resilience Forum to highlight therisk of accidental and self-harm drowning on the Thames andestablish the Thames as a separate risk area within London.

� Establish a Forum of partners to develop a Thames RiskRegister.

Implement a robust,multi-layered,programme to delivereducation and watersafety to targetedgroups and events

Continue to maintainand improve the Searchand Rescue response toincidents on the river

Ensure that safety is anintrinsic part of allfuture development

Establish the RiverThames as anindependentlyidentifiable risk area

What we intend to do: How we intend to do it:

For more information email: [email protected]

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