Report evidence summary
Stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised. 30
National Fire Chiefs Council Track relevant Prevention of Future Deaths reports and share them with fire and rescue service members.
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National Fire Chiefs Council Share key learning from the incident with UK fire and rescue services through organisational learning arrangements.
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National Fire Chiefs Council Reflect incident learning in national guidance to help fire and rescue services address similar risks.
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London Fire Brigade Review regularly whether additional throwline boards are needed along the Thames.
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London Fire Brigade Strengthen operational collaboration with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to improve Thames emergency response.
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London Fire Brigade Add neighbouring fire and rescue services’ water-rescue resources to LFB Control records for faster resource assessment and deployment.
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London Fire Brigade Urge all London local authorities to review water-rescue equipment and arrangements.
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London Fire Brigade Upgrade LFB and MPS systems to exchange incident information electronically through MAIT.
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London Fire Brigade Implement improved Airwave radio communications to strengthen interoperability between emergency services at incidents.
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London Fire Brigade Monitor the Coastguard ES3 channel and broadcast Thames incidents to which LFB can respond.
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London Fire Brigade Hold water-safety events and provide river-safety education through the Twickenham Fire Station water-safety room.
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London Fire Brigade Support London local authorities to install water-safety equipment and throwline boards at key Thames locations.
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London Fire Brigade Conduct multi-agency training exercises to test and improve emergency response on the Thames.
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London Fire Brigade Provide throwlines and training in their use to riverside businesses, venues and parks patrols.
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London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Assess each water-adjacent site using watercourse, access, rescue, hazard, and incident-history risk criteria.
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London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Work with the Local Resilience Forum and relevant partners to advocate for enhanced inter-agency emergency communication.
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London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Implement a structured inspection and maintenance programme to maintain equipment functionality and visibility and promptly replace damaged or missing assets.
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London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Install or upgrade buoyancy aids at high-risk locations, prioritising high-traffic areas and improving visibility with reflective markings.
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London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Consider lighting buoyancy aids at sites used during evenings or affected by low visibility.
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London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Survey all Borough waterbodies and riverside locations, mapping safety assets and identifying gaps or deterioration.
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City of London Use high-visibility life-buoy housings with agreed markings, emergency instructions, and unique location codes.
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City of London Supplement the number of life-belt positions on Tower Bridge following a wider bridge safety review.
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City of London Inspect life belts and housings weekly and replace missing or damaged items from stocked supplies.
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London Borough of Havering Review risk assessments for providing life buoys at Council-owned inland water and publicly accessible sites.
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London Borough of Havering Review the Report’s findings through future risk-assessment processes.
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London Borough of Havering Share the Report’s findings with known riparian owners possessing publicly accessible lifesaving equipment.
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London Borough of Havering Require newly procured buoyancy aids to comply with the relevant British Standard and include white stripes.
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London Borough of Havering Consider whether the Local Plan can include a policy requiring developers adjacent to water to provide and maintain lifesaving equipment.
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London Borough of Havering Ensure all relevant Council departments are made aware of the Report.
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London Borough of Havering Consider lighting life buoys at Council-owned inland water and publicly accessible sites, completing the consideration within three months.
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× 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 Delays in police alerting of the LFB and subsequent emergency response
Wider context from the report “The process for alerting the LFB by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) uses a telephone to transmit information from the MPS to the LFB , rather than using a CAD-mediated system to transfer information electronically from the Police to the LFB which is faster than transmitting information by telephone . This delay means that there is a risk that future deaths could occur due to a delay in the LFB being alerted by the Police and a corresponding delay to the LFB's subsequent response to an emergency incident .
” Open source report × 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 Inadequate visibility of riverside buoyancy aids
Wider context from the report “The lighting of buoyancy aids on the riverside is not adequate , meaning that they are not able to be identified rapidly and then deployed without delay in an emergency situation.
Buoyancy aids are more visible when painted with white stripes and/or reflective white stripes. However, not all buoyancy aids are so painted , meaning that they are not able to be identified rapidly and then deployed without delay in an emergency situation.
” Is this part of a recurring concern? No recurring-concern membership is currently published.
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Track relevant Prevention of Future Deaths reports and share them with fire and rescue service members.
Verbatim wording from the response “Thank you for raising the concern in relation to the death of Liam Stephen Allan on 26 August 2022. It is with great sadness that I read about the circumstances of his death. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is committed to a culture of learning and improvement and seeks to support fire and rescue services to embed a learning culture. We actively track Prevention of Future Deaths reports that relate to fire and rescue services or similar relevant activities such as emergency response driving and share them with our members to ensure all opportunities to improve are taken.” Source location Response from National Fire Chiefs Council
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Share key learning from the incident with UK fire and rescue services through organisational learning arrangements.
Verbatim wording from the response “For this tragic death of Liam Stephen Allan, we have been in liaison with London Fire Brigade to ensure that all learning captured from the incident is processed through our NFCC Organisational Learning arrangements. By doing this, we will not only be able to share key learning points with other UK fire and rescue services, but we will also be able to reflect on national guidance to ensure that fire and rescue services are adequately addressing the risks of similar incidents from occurring.” Source location Response from National Fire Chiefs Council
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Reflect incident learning in national guidance to help fire and rescue services address similar risks.
Verbatim wording from the response “For this tragic death of Liam Stephen Allan, we have been in liaison with London Fire Brigade to ensure that all learning captured from the incident is processed through our NFCC Organisational Learning arrangements. By doing this, we will not only be able to share key learning points with other UK fire and rescue services, but we will also be able to reflect on national guidance to ensure that fire and rescue services are adequately addressing the risks of similar incidents from occurring.” Source location Response from National Fire Chiefs Council
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Review regularly whether additional throwline boards are needed along the Thames.
Verbatim wording from the response “The need for additional throwline boards along the Thames is regularly reviewed.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Strengthen operational collaboration with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to improve Thames emergency response.
Verbatim wording from the response “7. LFB has strengthened its operational working with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to improve the response to emergencies on the Thames.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Add neighbouring fire and rescue services’ water-rescue resources to LFB Control records for faster resource assessment and deployment.
Verbatim wording from the response “8. In May 2024, LFB Control had added details of water rescue resources held by neighbouring Fire and Rescue Services. This allows control room operators to assess whether LFB resources could be nearer to an incident and deployed more quickly if needed.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Urge all London local authorities to review water-rescue equipment and arrangements.
Verbatim wording from the response “2. On 25th July 2023 – World Drowning Prevention Day - writing to Chief Executives of all London Local Authorities urging a review of water rescue equipment and arrangements. Several water safety events were held on this day at venues including Teddington lock, Hampton Court Palace and Hampton canoe club.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Upgrade LFB and MPS systems to exchange incident information electronically through MAIT.
Verbatim wording from the response “In late 2022, further improvements to sharing of electronic incident records by emergency services came through the introduction of the Multi Agency Incident Transfer ['MAIT'] System. MAIT allows emergency services control rooms to share incident data electronically. LFB along with the MPS are upgrading their systems to accommodate this. However robust radio communications between control rooms are currently in place to share incident information via a secure radio network.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Implement improved Airwave radio communications to strengthen interoperability between emergency services at incidents.
Verbatim wording from the response “Following recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in respect of radio communications at incidents, LFB has made significant changes to its radio system - Airwave Digital Main-Scheme Radio system. The changes improved communications between emergency services on incident grounds. This enables greater interoperability of the different operational talk systems used by the Metropolitan Police Service ['MPS'] and LFB.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Monitor the Coastguard ES3 channel and broadcast Thames incidents to which LFB can respond.
Verbatim wording from the response “9. From February 2025, LFB Control staff monitor ES3 channel - the Coastguard channel - and broadcast any incident on the Thames to which LFB can respond.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Hold water-safety events and provide river-safety education through the Twickenham Fire Station water-safety room.
Verbatim wording from the response “2. On 25th July 2023 – World Drowning Prevention Day - writing to Chief Executives of all London Local Authorities urging a review of water rescue equipment and arrangements. Several water safety events were held on this day at venues including Teddington lock, Hampton Court Palace and Hampton canoe club.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Support London local authorities to install water-safety equipment and throwline boards at key Thames locations.
Verbatim wording from the response “LFB has worked with London Local Authorities to support them installing throwline boards at multiple points along the River Thames. Each throwline board contains a throwbag and foil blanket. These boards not only contain rescue equipment but provide precise geolocation detail, which can be used by LFB control staff to dispatch crews in the event of an incident.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Conduct multi-agency training exercises to test and improve emergency response on the Thames.
Verbatim wording from the response “6. A number of multi-agency training exercises have been held to test and improve the emergency response on the Thames.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Provide throwlines and training in their use to riverside businesses, venues and parks patrols.
Verbatim wording from the response “4. In the Richmond and Kingston areas of the Thames, as part of borough partnership initiatives in 2023/24, LFB provided throwlines and training in their use, to businesses, cafes, bars and restaurants along the river. Training in throwline use has also been provided to parks patrols.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Assess each water-adjacent site using watercourse, access, rescue, hazard, and incident-history risk criteria.
Verbatim wording from the response “2. Risk Assessment Criteria” Source location Response from London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Work with the Local Resilience Forum and relevant partners to advocate for enhanced inter-agency emergency communication.
Verbatim wording from the response “Cross-Agency and Emergency Communication Issues” Source location Response from London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Implement a structured inspection and maintenance programme to maintain equipment functionality and visibility and promptly replace damaged or missing assets.
Verbatim wording from the response “4. Inspection and Maintenance Regime” Source location Response from London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Install or upgrade buoyancy aids at high-risk locations, prioritising high-traffic areas and improving visibility with reflective markings.
Verbatim wording from the response “3. Standardisation of Safety Equipment” Source location Response from London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Consider lighting buoyancy aids at sites used during evenings or affected by low visibility.
Verbatim wording from the response “• Aids will be clearly marked with reflective white stripes or similar enhancements to improve visibility in low light.” Source location Response from London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Survey all Borough waterbodies and riverside locations, mapping safety assets and identifying gaps or deterioration.
Verbatim wording from the response “1. Comprehensive Survey and Asset Mapping” Source location Response from London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Use high-visibility life-buoy housings with agreed markings, emergency instructions, and unique location codes.
Verbatim wording from the response “Identification (painting) of buoyancy aids
All City life buoys are contained within high visibility housings, with the design, colouring and messaging on those housings agreed between the City and RNLI.” Source location Response from City of London
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Supplement the number of life-belt positions on Tower Bridge following a wider bridge safety review.
Verbatim wording from the response “In addition and for further information, the City’s life belts and their housings are inspected weekly and any missing belts or damaged housings are replenished / replaced from a store we hold readily available for this purpose. Furthermore, if stakeholders report missing belts, these are replaced asap. We are also in the process of supplementing the number of left belt positions on Tower Bridge as a result of a wider review of safety matters for that bridge.” Source location Response from City of London
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Inspect life belts and housings weekly and replace missing or damaged items from stocked supplies.
Verbatim wording from the response “In addition and for further information, the City’s life belts and their housings are inspected weekly and any missing belts or damaged housings are replenished / replaced from a store we hold readily available for this purpose. Furthermore, if stakeholders report missing belts, these are replaced asap. We are also in the process of supplementing the number of left belt positions on Tower Bridge as a result of a wider review of safety matters for that bridge.” Source location Response from City of London
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Review risk assessments for providing life buoys at Council-owned inland water and publicly accessible sites.
Verbatim wording from the response “As far as my enquiries have determined, the Council does not own any Thames Riverside buoyancy aids. The provision, maintenance and any lighting of buoyancy aids will often fall to riparian land owners. The Council does own inland bodies of water and publically accessible places next to these. Consideration and review of risk assessments as to the provision of life buoys at these sites was recently given. Further consideration as to the lighting of these will now be given and this will be completed within three months of this letter. The report findings will be reviewed as part of risk assessment processes going forward. The report findings have also been shared with known riparian owners in case they have publically accessible lifesaving equipment.” Source location Response from London Borough of Havering
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Review the Report’s findings through future risk-assessment processes.
Verbatim wording from the response “As far as my enquiries have determined, the Council does not own any Thames Riverside buoyancy aids. The provision, maintenance and any lighting of buoyancy aids will often fall to riparian land owners. The Council does own inland bodies of water and publically accessible places next to these. Consideration and review of risk assessments as to the provision of life buoys at these sites was recently given. Further consideration as to the lighting of these will now be given and this will be completed within three months of this letter. The report findings will be reviewed as part of risk assessment processes going forward. The report findings have also been shared with known riparian owners in case they have publically accessible lifesaving equipment.” Source location Response from London Borough of Havering
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Share the Report’s findings with known riparian owners possessing publicly accessible lifesaving equipment.
Verbatim wording from the response “As far as my enquiries have determined, the Council does not own any Thames Riverside buoyancy aids. The provision, maintenance and any lighting of buoyancy aids will often fall to riparian land owners. The Council does own inland bodies of water and publically accessible places next to these. Consideration and review of risk assessments as to the provision of life buoys at these sites was recently given. Further consideration as to the lighting of these will now be given and this will be completed within three months of this letter. The report findings will be reviewed as part of risk assessment processes going forward. The report findings have also been shared with known riparian owners in case they have publically accessible lifesaving equipment.” Source location Response from London Borough of Havering
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Require newly procured buoyancy aids to comply with the relevant British Standard and include white stripes.
Verbatim wording from the response “Whenever the Council procures new buoyancy aids we will ensure the purchase is as per the relevant British Standard foremost and the application of a white stripe(s) will be required.” Source location Response from London Borough of Havering
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Consider whether the Local Plan can include a policy requiring developers adjacent to water to provide and maintain lifesaving equipment.
Verbatim wording from the response “In addition to our response to your Matters of Concern above we will also ensure all relevant departments within the Council are made aware of your Report. As part of the review of the Local Plan, the Local Planning Authority will consider whether there is scope to include a policy for developers developing land adjacent to water to provide and maintain lifesaving equipment, so as to secure incremental improvements wherever possible.” Source location Response from London Borough of Havering
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Ensure all relevant Council departments are made aware of the Report.
Verbatim wording from the response “In addition to our response to your Matters of Concern above we will also ensure all relevant departments within the Council are made aware of your Report. As part of the review of the Local Plan, the Local Planning Authority will consider whether there is scope to include a policy for developers developing land adjacent to water to provide and maintain lifesaving equipment, so as to secure incremental improvements wherever possible.” Source location Response from London Borough of Havering
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How this respondent action was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Consider lighting life buoys at Council-owned inland water and publicly accessible sites, completing the consideration within three months.
Verbatim wording from the response “As far as my enquiries have determined, the Council does not own any Thames Riverside buoyancy aids. The provision, maintenance and any lighting of buoyancy aids will often fall to riparian land owners. The Council does own inland bodies of water and publically accessible places next to these. Consideration and review of risk assessments as to the provision of life buoys at these sites was recently given. Further consideration as to the lighting of these will now be given and this will be completed within three months of this letter. The report findings will be reviewed as part of risk assessment processes going forward. The report findings have also been shared with known riparian owners in case they have publically accessible lifesaving equipment.” Source location Response from London Borough of Havering
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Configuration of electronic communication systems will be agreed locally by fire and rescue services with relevant partner agencies.
Verbatim wording from the response “the consideration of configuring mobilising systems to integrate with electronic methods of communication. This will take a variety of forms within fire and rescue services and be agreed locally with their relevant partners.” Source location Response from National Fire Chiefs Council
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Existing direct radio communications between emergency service control rooms provide a robust means of sharing incident information while electronic exchange develops.
Verbatim wording from the response “In late 2022, further improvements to sharing of electronic incident records by emergency services came through the introduction of the Multi Agency Incident Transfer ['MAIT'] System. MAIT allows emergency services control rooms to share incident data electronically. LFB along with the MPS are upgrading their systems to accommodate this. However robust radio communications between control rooms are currently in place to share incident information via a secure radio network.” Source location Response from London Fire Brigade
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Emergency communications between the Metropolitan Police Service and London Fire Brigade are outside the Borough’s management responsibility.
Verbatim wording from the response “While our Borough does not manage emergency communications between the Metropolitan Police Service and the London Fire Brigade, we strongly support improvements in this area. We will work with the Local Resilience Forum and relevant partners to advocate for enhanced inter-agency communication, particularly in critical response scenarios.” Source location Response from London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Existing riverside, bridge and ambient lighting is considered sufficient to make life buoy stations visible from a reasonable and appropriate distance.
Verbatim wording from the response “Lighting of buoyancy aid locations
Our review suggests that the lighting of our riverside frontage and our bridges, together with the general level of background ambient lighting in the City, provides sufficient lighting to ensure life buoy stations are visible to a reasonable and appropriate distance.” Source location Response from City of London
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Communication between emergency services is a matter for the emergency services, so no Council action is proposed.
Verbatim wording from the response “We consider this to be a matter for the emergency services to address. For this reason, no action by the Council is proposed.” Source location Response from London Borough of Havering
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How this respondent position was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation Provision, maintenance and lighting of Thames riverside buoyancy aids will often be the responsibility of riparian landowners.
Verbatim wording from the response “As far as my enquiries have determined, the Council does not own any Thames Riverside buoyancy aids. The provision, maintenance and any lighting of buoyancy aids will often fall to riparian land owners. The Council does own inland bodies of water and publically accessible places next to these. Consideration and review of risk assessments as to the provision of life buoys at these sites was recently given. Further consideration as to the lighting of these will now be given and this will be completed within three months of this letter. The report findings will be reviewed as part of risk assessment processes going forward. The report findings have also been shared with known riparian owners in case they have publically accessible lifesaving equipment.” Source location Response from London Borough of Havering
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