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Detection, Identification and Monitoring (DIM)

This capability is provided for detecting, identifying and monitoring unknown or deliberately disguised dangerous substances. It is a growing suite of highly technical equipment operated by our specially trained Hazardous Material Environmental Protection Officers (HMEPOs).

The equipment includes

gas monitoring equipment
radiation detectors
a chemical liquid and solids analyser and
a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer plus numerous items for sampling and testing.

All this equipment is mobile and able to be taken into the ‘hot zone’ and operated by the DIM trained officers wearing gas tight suits.

This capability is fully operational although we are still receiving further equipment and training in line with the national project developing this area.

The DIM capability is directed by the Civil Protection Manager and managed on a daily basis by the Service HMEPO who is allocated time within his current role to do this.

Qualified officers

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) decided that it was essential to have two DIM qualified officers mobilised to an incident requiring this capability. We have therefore allocated and trained 12 of our 24 HMEPOs as DIM officers.

They have all received the central training to operate the equipment and are spread across our officers rota groups so two are available at all times.

Vehicle and equipment

The DIM equipment and all supporting documentation is currently stowed on our secondary command vehicle which is mobilised directly to incidents to rendezvous with the DIM officers. The command team are trained to be familiar with the equipment but mainly act as a communications point and base of operations for the DIM officers.

This vehicle also has internet capability and is used at an incident to e-mail test results to the Reachback facility in the US that provides immediate expert analysis of data when necessary.

A specifically designed vehicle to further enhance this capability is due to arrive in 2007. It will carry all the equipment mentioned plus gas tight suits, breathing apparatus, decontamination facilities, communications and internet access, plus a mini testing laboratory.

Briefings with other agencies

Numerous briefings have been held with other agencies explaining and demonstrating the capability. Arrangements and an MOU has been established with the Police for using the equipment with suspect packages and white powder incidents. This has already been activated successfully on numerous occasions.

As a national resource the capability is available to be mobilised to other counties who don’t have DIM equipment and has been done successfully on several occasions.

Briefings and demonstrations have been delivered to Wiltshire, Dorset and West Sussex FRS’s and with Sussex and Dorset Police. We have exercised our DIM capability with Sussex Police and identified several learning points.

We are scheduled to familiarise the Isle of Wight officers with the DIM capability in the near future as part of ongoing support arrangements with the Island.