Southport Inquiry Phase 1 Response: Chief Constable Rob Carden Acknowledges Findings

Following the publication of the Southport Inquiry Phase 1 report , Chief Constable Rob Carden has issued the following statement:

Chief Constable Rob Carden, said: “We welcome and acknowledge the findings of the Southport Inquiry Phase 1 report, published today following the inquiry which was conducted by Sir Adrian Fulford last year.

“The report assesses the response of a range of local and national agencies which had prior contact with the perpetrator.

“It also looks at the Merseyside Police response on the day of the incident itself.

“The force accepts learning set out in the report in relation to the initial response on the day of the attack and will be considering the recommendations in the coming days. Importantly, the report does stress that the response as a whole was well managed and displayed effective inter-agency liaison, and the matters raised for learning did not impact on the response provided on the day.

“Merseyside Police will always learn from incidents and take action to improve the service it provides to the people of Merseyside.

“In relation to Major incidents and JESIP principles we have regular training sessions with our emergency service partners and will stress at all of these the need for clarity in communication between  partners, including the North West Ambulance Service, from control room to room.

“However, it is clear that emergency service resources (police and ambulance), on the ground on the day of the incident, were in attendance promptly, were updated on the current situation and knew it was safe for non-police emergency services to be in attendance.”

Chief Constable Carden, added: “In terms of the 2019 investigation following the arrest of AR at the Range High School, which resulted in him being charged, we acknowledge the recommendation in respect of communication between different police organisations. We will work together with other policing organisations to ensure this is resolved.

“We appreciate that the inquiry recognised the bravery of the first police officers and Police Community Support Officer who first attended at the Hart Space. The report states, “They did not know that he would surrender when challenged; they did not even know that he was alone. Their courage in entering a stairwell, against the advice of those who had seen how AR was armed and how he was behaving, is worthy of the highest praise.”

“Finally, I want to stress that our thoughts remain with the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie, and those who were injured and traumatised by the events at the Hart Space on 29 July 2024.

“It is incumbent on all the organisations referred to by the inquiry to act on the recommendations made to ensure everything possible is done to prevent this from happening again.

“Following the tragic incident the families of Alice, Bebe and Elsie found themselves facing unimaginable trauma and distress, but somehow they have managed to find the strength to ensure that their daughters’ names are recognised for good, and not solely associated with the tragedy.

“They have worked tirelessly to ensure that their daughters’ legacies live on as a result of the positive work they are doing to help others, and I commend them for making sure that others will be helped as a result of the work they are doing in their daughters' names.”