Legal Support and Medical Emergencies

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This briefing tries to explain what the Legal Support Team, especially the Trackers, need to do if anyone is taken to Hospital whilst under arrest. There is also a general information sheet about what hospital facilities are available near to Faslane.

Injury at the Action

If someone is injured or taken ill during the action then police officers should help with administering first aid or getting an ambulance. They may let your first aiders help or even deal with it. If the person has been arrested they could send police officers in the ambulance and refuse to allow friends to accompany the patient. Legal Observers should find out where the person is being taken.

The person could remain in custody whilst they are treated and then be taken to a Police Station. Or they could be de-arrested and abandoned at the hospital. Whether you send supporters and a vehicle to the hospital or await news will depend on how serious the injury or illness is and how distressed the person is.

Trackers should be made aware of anyone being hospitalised and phone the hospital for news after enough time for them to have arrived. The hospital may only give this to family members although they may also give some information to friends, especially if they are from the group the injured person was travelling with.

Medical Treatment at the Police Station

If someone has minor injuries or is unwell or needs prescription medication the police should call a police doctor to attend at the police station.

If trackers know that someone is injured or has a medical problem they should check that the officers at the police station are aware of this and ask whether a doctor has been called.

If their condition gets worse or the police doctor thinks they need treatment they could be taken to hospital. Police may stay with them or they could be released from custody and abandoned at the hospital.

Keep in touch with the police to find out what is happening and if necessary phone the hospital.

If people are being held in a Glasgow police station there are a number of hospitals that could be used for treatment. Ask the hospital for directions or see this site.

Complaints

If someone wishes to make a police complaint related to their injuries, especially if they were inflicted or exacerbated by the police, then they should both take photographs of the injuries (at the time and a few days later) and also get them examined by an independent doctor fairly soon. If they are taken to A&E then they (or someone from the Legal Support Team) should write down the name of the doctor they saw. If someone from the Legal Support Team goes to the hospital they should try to find out the name of the doctor. The photographer and/or doctor might need to make a statement to the police and may even end up as a witness in court if the complaint is pursued.