Life-saving equipment put into police vans thanks to funds recovered from criminals

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LIFE-SAVING defibrillators have been installed into West Midlands police vans.

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Simon Foster, has used money seized from criminals to pay for the equipment for 10 vehicles.

Up until now firearms and traffic police vehicles have carried the defibs, but not the Operational Support Units (OSU).

The initiative has been made possible through £10,750 secured via the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) - money seized from criminal activity and reinvested into crime prevention and community safety.

The bid was approved after a compelling case was made by a police officer from the OSU, who highlighted the critical role defibrillators can play in saving lives at the scene of emergencies.

Mr Foster said: "I am passionate about using money seized from criminals and putting it to good use, for the benefit of people and communities within the West Midlands.

"By buying these defibs and kitting out police vans, we are directly investing in equipment that can save lives.

"I'm pleased to support this initiative and thank the officers who championed it. Every second counts in a cardiac emergency, and these defibrillators could make the difference between life and death."

The devices were supplied by St John Ambulance.

Karen McKeown, West Midlands county commissioner from the charity, said: "We're proud to support West Midlands Police in this life-saving initiative.

"The defibrillators provided are designed for rapid deployment and ease of use, even in high-pressure situations.

"It's especially meaningful that the POCA funding used to purchase them is being reinvested into St John Ambulance, helping us continue our mission to save lives."

The rollout has also been welcomed by Naomi Rees-Issitt, tireless campaigner and founder of the Our Jay Foundation, which was established in memory of her 18-year-old son Jamie Rees.

The Rugby resident has been raising awareness of the importance of defibrillators and is campaigning for Jamie's Law, which would see every police vehicle in the UK equipped with a defib.