Brave police - health and safety?

[tigersaw]

A while ago I posted that it was ridiculous that a policeman could not wade into a lake to rescue a drowning (drowned?) person due to health and safety mumbo jumbo, and now I read here how 6 coppers dive into the Avon to rescue people from a sinking car - surely a far more dangerous activity, in fact they are all being treated in hospital.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-20015659

Now I know BBC news reporting is pretty awful (as an example we had an incident at the airport yetserday - the BBC report was completely wrong, looks like it had been lifted from the twitter rumor) but if true this looks like the bravery I expect and respect from our police force

[DJ123]

It's one case in which the natural human response was adhered to, rather than rules and regs. Well done to them, the out come could have been far worse if they didn't react.

[Fallout]

I think the rules are there to protect police officers from having to risk their own lives. If a cop doesn't feel up to the task of wading in and saving someone (over the hill, obese, crap at swimming, hate the scum drowning etc!), they have an excuse for not doing it. They're not expected to, so they can fall back on rules/regs.

I think it's unfair to expect a cop to wade in and save someone from downing. They're not life guards after all and AFAIK they don't need a 100m swimming badge to join. ;) So they shouldn't be expected to do it any more than anyone else. I assume though if they choose to do so they aren't disciplined for it. If they are, that'd be ridiculous.

[Lawman]

You have to be able to swim if you are a cop..or certainly did a few years ago.

You may find it was PCSO's who are civillians with very few powers who were reported at the lake incident. It's very hard to make true judgement unless you were there I suppose.

Its a judgement call like any other based upon knowledge of your own capabilities.

[suzukigt380paul]

i was told its not/or shouldn't be called health and safety,but health and stupidity
but well done to those policemen who dived in to save those people,and i know we all at times criticize the police,but i dont think that we and especially the media say what a good and at times a difficult job they do

[Milky Bar Kid]

You have to be able to swim if you are a cop..or certainly did a few years ago.

You may find it was PCSO's who are civillians with very few powers who were reported at the lake incident. It's very hard to make true judgement unless you were there I suppose.

Its a judgement call like any other based upon knowledge of your own capabilities.

Nope, no longer a requirment.

[yorkie_chris]

I wouldn't fancy a dip in a freezing river with a load of body armor and whatever other sh*te you're lumbered with for a saturday night and I like getting wet.

Respect where it's due :)

Curiosity strikes as to what went on though, they must have been close to the scene anyway to get in there if it was sinking/still floating but heading downstream.