PFD report

David DOOLEY · Prevention of Future Deaths report

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Issued 10 Apr 2019•Brighton and Hove

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

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Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
1

Named on the report

Responses found
1

Of 1 recipient

Stated actions
9

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

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Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Lack of police awareness of life-line locations and use
    Part of recurring concern: Inadequate public water-rescue equipment and arrangements
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.5

  1. Action

    Add coastal throw-ring locations to the Sussex Police digital mapping system.

    Stated by Sussex PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 15 July 2019.
  2. Action

    Introduce throw lines as standard equipment in marked Sussex Police Response and other marked police vehicles.

    Stated by Sussex PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 15 July 2019.
  3. Action

    Distribute prompt cards showing Brighton and Hove coastal throw-ring locations to all divisional police officers and staff.

    Stated by Sussex PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 15 July 2019.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of police awareness of life-line locations and use

Wider context from the report

“(1) The exact location of the life lines on Brighton seafront were not known to the Police officers who attended the scene of the incident. Mr Dooley’s friend informed security at the local night club that he believed that Mr Dooley was in the sea and the police officers attended very quickly. The location of the life lines were not known to the police officers who attended the beach. A life line had to be brought from the Police Station. As a consequence, there was a delay in a life line being thrown to Mr Dooley. There was in fact a life line 30 metres from where Mr Dooley’s friend had first alerted the night club security that Mr Dooley was in the sea. Although there was a delay in attempts being made to throw Mr Dooley a life line, taking into consideration the adverse weather conditions (Storm Callum) and sea conditions, even if a line had been thrown earlier, I consider it would not have been able to be thrown to Mr Dooley successfully. (2) Steps should be taken to increase the police awareness of the location of life lines and their use, so that they can be used more expeditiously. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

Yes — Inadequate public water-rescue equipment and arrangements.

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Add coastal throw-ring locations to the Sussex Police digital mapping system.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As previously explained, there are 25 throw rings situated along the seafront of Brighton & Hove, the location of which have been mapped and recorded on prompt cards for Police officers and staff. The intention is to share this with the Brighton & Hove Crime Reduction Partnership which will include night time economy workers such as door staff. Although prompt cards have been provided to officers and staff showing the location of coastal throw rings, the longer term aim is to have these locations also available on our Sussex Police digital mapping system. There are some technical challenges but CI Bennett is engaged at the appropriate level and aims to finalise this by 1st September 2019.”

Source location

2019-0127-Response-by-Sussex-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 15 July 2019

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Introduce throw lines as standard equipment in marked Sussex Police Response and other marked police vehicles.

Verbatim wording from the response

“4. Following on from previous action taken by Sussex Police in relation to water safety awareness and additional training for police officers and staff, ‘throw lines’ were purchased and made part of the standard equipment for all Sussex Police marked Response vehicles in August 2018. In November 2018 throw lines were also introduced as standard equipment on all marked police vehicles in Sussex. In early 2019 this was further enhanced with the introduction of the joint Surrey and Sussex force policy on ‘Water Safety for first responders’ (1184/2019). This policy document also includes a comprehensive toolkit for officers and staff, and also a guidance sheet on the effective use of the throw lines now available in all marked police vehicles.”

Source location

2019-0127-Response-by-Sussex-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 15 July 2019

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Distribute prompt cards showing Brighton and Hove coastal throw-ring locations to all divisional police officers and staff.

Verbatim wording from the response

“2. Following this tragic incident the location of publically available throw lines and rings is more widely known among officers and staff. Acting on the recommendations of the Coroner’s report, prompt cards showing the location of the 25 throw rings currently provided by Brighton & Hove City Council have been obtained and have been sent to all Police officers and staff on Brighton & Hove Division.”

Source location

2019-0127-Response-by-Sussex-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 15 July 2019

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Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Implement the joint Surrey and Sussex policy, toolkit and guidance on water safety and throw-line use for first responders.

Verbatim wording from the response

“4. Following on from previous action taken by Sussex Police in relation to water safety awareness and additional training for police officers and staff, ‘throw lines’ were purchased and made part of the standard equipment for all Sussex Police marked Response vehicles in August 2018. In November 2018 throw lines were also introduced as standard equipment on all marked police vehicles in Sussex. In early 2019 this was further enhanced with the introduction of the joint Surrey and Sussex force policy on ‘Water Safety for first responders’ (1184/2019). This policy document also includes a comprehensive toolkit for officers and staff, and also a guidance sheet on the effective use of the throw lines now available in all marked police vehicles.”

Source location

2019-0127-Response-by-Sussex-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 15 July 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Require police CCTV operators to scan for water-safety equipment and highlight its location during initial responses to people believed in danger in water.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Changes to our standard operating procedures within the Sussex Police Contact Centre will with immediate effect include police CCTV operators being tasked via police incident management system (“Webstorm”) to ‘scan’ for water safety equipment at the location of an incident, as part of the initial response where it is believed someone has entered the sea and is thought to be in danger. The wording that has been introduced as an automated prompt is ‘In incidents where a person has entered the water, on shore or inland, where there is a CCTV view, the identification of life saving equipment, such as throw lines, should be highlighted to attending officers/staff and members of the public who may have called on 999.’”

Source location

2019-0127-Response-by-Sussex-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 15 July 2019

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Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.4

  1. 1

    Meet the Royal Life Saving Society UK and appoint a representative to the Brighton and Hove Coastal Water Safety Forum.

    Stated by Sussex PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 15 July 2019.
  2. 2

    Support the partnership-led summer campaign providing water-safety advice about alcohol, drugs and adverse weather risks.

    Stated by Sussex PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 15 July 2019.
  3. 3

    Replicate coastal throw-ring prompt-card distribution across Sussex divisions containing coastal areas or large expanses of water.

    Stated by Sussex PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 15 July 2019.
  4. 4

    Share mapped Brighton and Hove throw-ring locations with the Brighton and Hove Crime Reduction Partnership, including night-time economy workers.

    Stated by Sussex PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 15 July 2019.

Recipient positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when they do not describe a specific action.1

  1. 1

    Sussex Police is not the lead for public water-safety awareness activity, which is delivered through a partnership-led city campaign.

    Stated by Sussex PoliceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Meet the Royal Life Saving Society UK and appoint a representative to the Brighton and Hove Coastal Water Safety Forum.

Verbatim wording from the response

“3. In seeking to address recommendation 3 in the regulation 28 notice, a Brighton & Hove Division senior manager has met with the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSSUK) and now sits as a Sussex Police representative on the Brighton & Hove Coastal Water Safety Forum (BHCWSF). Attendees at the forum come from various agencies including local council, seafront office, local policing and local business representatives.”

Source location

2019-0127-Response-by-Sussex-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 15 July 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Support the partnership-led summer campaign providing water-safety advice about alcohol, drugs and adverse weather risks.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Although not taking the lead in this, Sussex Police are fully engaged with and support this activity. It will also feature in the ‘Keeping safe in the summer campaign’ a partnership led initiative in the city.”

Source location

2019-0127-Response-by-Sussex-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 15 July 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Replicate coastal throw-ring prompt-card distribution across Sussex divisions containing coastal areas or large expanses of water.

Verbatim wording from the response

“It is the intention to replicate this process across all divisions within the Sussex Police area that have coastal areas or large expanses of water. Chief Inspector Bennett will ensure this is completed by 1st July 2019.”

Source location

2019-0127-Response-by-Sussex-Police
Page 2 · response
Published 15 July 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Share mapped Brighton and Hove throw-ring locations with the Brighton and Hove Crime Reduction Partnership, including night-time economy workers.

Verbatim wording from the response

“As previously explained, there are 25 throw rings situated along the seafront of Brighton & Hove, the location of which have been mapped and recorded on prompt cards for Police officers and staff. The intention is to share this with the Brighton & Hove Crime Reduction Partnership which will include night time economy workers such as door staff. Although prompt cards have been provided to officers and staff showing the location of coastal throw rings, the longer term aim is to have these locations also available on our Sussex Police digital mapping system. There are some technical challenges but CI Bennett is engaged at the appropriate level and aims to finalise this by 1st September 2019.”

Source location

2019-0127-Response-by-Sussex-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 15 July 2019

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Sussex Police is not the lead for public water-safety awareness activity, which is delivered through a partnership-led city campaign.

Verbatim wording from the response

“Sussex Police is not the lead in this partnership activity but is an active forum member and will be fully supporting the summer ‘Keeping safe campaign’ which includes water safety advice, highlighting the dangers of entering the sea when under the influence of drink/drugs or in adverse weather conditions. Local businesses, particularly those involved in the night-time economy are also engaged with this campaign and whilst they are members of the BHCWSF, they are also present during Police and partner briefings as part of our night-time economy response.”

Source location

2019-0127-Response-by-Sussex-Police
Page 3 · response
Published 15 July 2019

Open published response
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Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026