Information and resources for raising awareness of children playing in derelict buildings.
The Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service is highlighting the danger of children playing in Derelict Buildings.
In raising awareness for this it has released the following press statement which includes a video.
In September 2017 Adam Johnson died after falling through the floor of a disused building in Derby. This fatal incident came just six months after a 19 year old man fell through the roof of a building in Ambergate, Derbyshire. The film aims to underline the dangers of entering derelict and disused buildings, raising awareness to young children who may see the buildings as a place to explore, and not a place of danger.
Inspector Lauren Woods from Derbyshire Police said:
“Insecure disused buildings pose a serious risk to anyone who enters them. Sites such as this are often in serious states of disrepair and have a number of potential dangers within them. Those entering these types of site are leaving themselves vulnerable to serious injury and even death. They are not playgrounds and should not be treated as such".
“Incidents of this nature are civil matters that are under the jurisdiction of the council they are within and it is the responsibility of the building’s owners to ensure that they are secure".
“If you are concerned about the security of a building then you should make the relevant local authority aware. If, however, there is an ongoing situation that is an emergency then you should contact the police on 999.”
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service is also sending a letter and links to the videos to all Derbyshire Schools requesting they show their pupils the videos prior to the summer break beginning.