Sixth Form Bolton Policing Academy and Public Services Students Tackle Major Incidents Day at BWFC

Our Policing Academy and Public Services Extended Diploma Year 1 & 2 students had the incredible opportunity to take part in a Major Incidents Day at Bolton Wanderers FC recently. This event was meticulously planned from start to finish by the BWFC Safety Officer who is a former Chief Inspector from Greater Manchester Police, with invaluable support from current Police Officers and North West Ambulance Service personnel.

The day kicked off with a deep dive into how Public Services respond to major incidents, with a specific focus on the role of the Police. Students learned about the Gold, Silver, and Bronze command structure, and the critical coordination needed during large and small scale incidents.

After lunch, our students stepped into real-world roles: Gold, Silver, and Bronze command, stewards, stand managers, and communications in the control room. They were presented with a challenging scenario — the management of the south stand for a fixture between Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic. A large group of students acted as home and away fans to present a real-life scenario of what happens during football fixtures. Students in the control room coordinated intelligence and information to support stewards in diffusing tense situations. To add complexity, surprise scenarios like a medical emergency were thrown in, testing our students' decision-making and teamwork.

This hands-on experience was a fantastic opportunity for our students to put their classroom knowledge into practice as part of their "Responding to and Planning for Major Incidents" unit led by Public Services Teacher, Nicholas Fisher

The students found the experience to be invaluable with second-year Triple Vocational Public Services student, Sebastien Ramdeal saying:

"The Major Incident day at the Toughsheet Stadium was an amazing experience. We were taught the different factors which go into categorising a major incident, and how a response is planned and executed. At the end of the day, we used the information that we were taught in a simulated security management situation, where communication was key. As a team, we all had to respond to the behaviour of a crowd and manage any other incidents that occurred in a calm and controlled manner. The opportunity was really helpful and information and gave us an idea of what it would be like to work in event security or even within the emergency services."

A huge thank you to the team at Bolton Wanderers Football Club for their time, effort, and support. Your contribution has been invaluable in enriching our course with real-life scenarios and experiences that will shape the future of our Public Service professionals.