Managing psychological trauma in the police service: from the Bradford fire to the Hillsborough crush disaster.

Abstract

Particularly since the Bradford football stadium fire of May 1985, the UK Police Service has been developing increasingly sophisticated procedures for managing post-traumatic stress reactions in its officers. Coupled with the growth of dedicated occupational health units within the Police Service, this suggests that physicians working within police forces will have an increasingly important role to play in the management of such problems. A brief account is given of the confidential screening and counselling service for police officers that was instituted after the Bradford fire, and a corresponding description is given of the more elaborate procedures implemented after the Hillsborough football stadium crush disaster of April 1989. In conclusion, the possible scope for preventive management of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highlighted.