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London bombing victims 'let down' London bombing victims 'let down'
(40 minutes later)
Victims of the London terror bombings on 7 July last year were let down by inadequate emergency planning, a Home Office report has found. The emergency response to the London bombings on 7 July last year was flawed, a Home Office report based on the experiences of victims has found.
Interviews with survivors and the families of victims suggest many did not get the support they needed. The government praises the bravery of emergency workers but says procedures in areas including communications and medical treatment need to be improved.
The government praised the bravery and professionalism of emergency workers but said procedures will be improved. It highlights the need to quickly set up reception and assistance centres.
Meanwhile, a separate report focusing on the emergency services said the response was "very successful". Meanwhile, a separate report focusing on the agencies involved said planning had proved "very successful".
The London Resilience Forum, a coalition made up of emergency services, transport, NHS and central and local government agencies, was set up in the wake of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US to prepare for potential emergencies.
"By quick, professional and effective action at the scene of each of the bombs, the situation had been contained and the potential additional loss of life and suffering considerably reduced," it said.
READ THE REPORT Lessons learned - Home Office report [3MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereREAD THE REPORT Lessons learned - Home Office report [3MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here
"Four years of planning and exercises had clearly paid great dividends," it said. The Home Office said improvements would be made to the casualty bureau system, emergency communication facilities and compensation procedures.
The Home Office said improvements would be made to the casualty bureau set-up, emergency communication systems and compensation procedures.
"In times of crisis, information and support must be readily available and easy to access for those who need it," said Home Secretary John Reid."In times of crisis, information and support must be readily available and easy to access for those who need it," said Home Secretary John Reid.
"Getting the right help in place is of critical importance and we are working hard to strengthen our emergency response.""Getting the right help in place is of critical importance and we are working hard to strengthen our emergency response."
READ THE REPORT href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/23_09_06_lrrfreport.pdf" class="">London Regional Resilience Forum report [523KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here 'Very hard lessons'
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, the minister charged with responsibility for liaising with survivors and bereaved relatives, said: "We've taken some very hard lessons and very practical lessons from what went wrong."Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, the minister charged with responsibility for liaising with survivors and bereaved relatives, said: "We've taken some very hard lessons and very practical lessons from what went wrong."
The Home Office inquiry has focused on the lessons that can be learned from the 7 July bombings.
And it accepts the overall response to the bombings on the London Underground was flawed.
7 JULY ASSISTANCE CENTRE Confidential helpline to provide advice and support to anyone affected by events of 7 July or the anniversaryCentre and helpline open seven days a week - answerphone service at nightAlso supports those affected by recent bombings in Doha, Sharm el-Sheikh, Turkey, Bali and Dahab, and Bahrain boat disasterHelpline - 0845 054 7444 Jowell says anger 'justified'
It says casualty bureau phone lines could not cope with the volume of calls from worried families.
The four suicide bombings killed 52 people and injured nearly 800.The four suicide bombings killed 52 people and injured nearly 800.
7 JULY ASSISTANCE CENTRE Confidential helpline to provide advice and support to anyone affected by events of 7 July or the anniversaryCentre and helpline open seven days a week - answerphone service at nightAlso supports those affected by recent bombings in Doha, Sharm el-Sheikh, Turkey, Bali and Dahab, and Bahrain boat disasterHelpline - 0845 054 7444 Jowell says anger 'justified'
The Home Office's Lessons Learned report says there "can be no doubt that lives were saved" by the efforts of emergency workers.
However, it says casualty bureau phone lines could not cope with the volume of calls from worried families.
There is also criticism of the way many of the walking wounded had to make their own way home without receiving medical help or having given their details to the authorities.There is also criticism of the way many of the walking wounded had to make their own way home without receiving medical help or having given their details to the authorities.
The report calls for suitable reception centres to be identified around the country that would become rallying points in the event of future incidents.The report calls for suitable reception centres to be identified around the country that would become rallying points in the event of future incidents.
The government has rejected calls for a full public inquiry into the events. 'Divert resources'
Ms Jowell has said the government would not hold a public inquiry because that would mean an "enormous diversion of security resources which need to be directed into preventing this happening again". Survivors are also said to have found the process of applying for compensation "bureaucratic, slow and distressing".
We look at the lessons to be learned and, however well it went on the day - and it did go well in that initial response - there'll always be things we can get better Deputy Chief Constable Andy Trotter And it supports the government's decision not to hold a full public inquiry into the events, saying such an investigation would "divert resources, in terms of personnel, away from the police and security agencies".
In May, a cross-party report into the attacks was published and the Home Office issued an official account of the events. The London Assembly has also published the findings of its own investigation. READ THE REPORT href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/23_09_06_lrrfreport.pdf" class="">London Regional Resilience Forum report [523KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here
Deputy Chief Constable Andy Trotter of British Transport Police said it was customary to update emergency plans after they were put into practice. The second report - Looking Back, Moving Forward - was published by London Resilience Forum.
"We are very critical of ourselves," he said. The coalition, made up of emergency services, transport, NHS and central and local government agencies, was set up in the wake of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US to prepare for potential emergencies in the capital.
"We debrief thoroughly. We look at the lessons to be learned and, however well it went on the day - and it did go well in that initial response - there'll always be things we can get better." "By quick, professional and effective action at the scene of each of the bombs, the situation had been contained and the potential additional loss of life and suffering considerably reduced," it said.
It said the agencies were not over-stretched but the response did "provide an opportunity to identify areas that required further work to increase London's ability to successfully deal with future emergencies" .
Poor communication - in particular an over-reliance on mobile phones - was cited as the "greatest single area of concern".