Issued 17.9.07
At 8:30am

RESILIENCE FORUM MARKS A NATIONAL FIRST

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Resilience Forum are today
(17.9.07) launching a DVD titled Mass Decontamination within a Multicultural
Environment at an event at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
Headquarters. This is the first DVD of its kind to be produced nationally.
The DVD is a communication tool aimed to reassure local communities about
the process of mass decontamination following exposure to hazardous
materials. The DVD is designed to allay people’s fears about the process and
to reassure them that their faith and needs will be respected throughout.
The DVD has been filmed locally by the BBC and funded by the Department
for Culture, Media and Sport. It features Firefighters, Police Officers and
representatives from the Local Council of Faiths. Firefighters talk through the
mass decontamination process and show the equipment that would be used.
Members from the Council of Faiths encourage people from their relevant
communities to co-operate with the authorities should there ever be a time
they need to go through the process.

Matt Baggott, Chief Constable and Chair of Leicester, Leicestershire and
Rutland Local Resilience Forum said: -
‘This initiative is an excellent example of how we can effectively
communicate a sensitive issue with our community groups’
Resham Singh Sandhu MBE, Chair of the Leicester Council of Faiths added: -
‘I am very pleased to be involved with this DVD and would encourage
all people, regardless of their cultural background to watch this DVD as
it really could save your life.

I would also like to reassure everyone in the various faith communities
across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland that should you ever need
to undergo the mass decontamination process, the concerned
authorities will show the utmost respect and consideration for your
needs regardless of your gender, ethnic origin or religious belief’
The DVD is being distributed to all Local Resilience Forums throughout the
UK for them to then use in their local communities.
Notes to News Desks

This news release is in addition to the media opportunity sent out on 13.9.07
The Government has invested heavily in the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS)
to ensure that it has enhanced capability to deal with major incidents. The
Government has spent over 200million to equip the FRS across England with
a wide ranging package of specialist equipment and facilities, including the
purchase of Mass Decontamination Units, Urban Search and Rescue
equipment and High Volume Pumps.

Contact Information
For more information please contact
Amanda Kelly-Pike
Marketing and Publicity Co-ordinator
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
Tel 0116 287 2241

For more information on the Local Resilience Forum please visit: -
http://www.localresilienceforum.org.uk/index.php

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