Defibrillator funding 'huge win', says campaigner

Jamie Rees's mother Naomi Rees-Issitt said his legacy lived on through such schemes

Money seized from criminals has been used to pay for life-saving defibrillators to go in 10 West Midlands Police vans in what a campaigner has described as a "huge win".

While the force already has defibrillators in firearms and traffic cars, it is now placing devices in vans used by its operational support unit, often for big events like sporting occasions and concerts.

Supplied by first aid charity St John Ambulance, a spokesperson added that the devices were "designed for rapid deployment and ease of use, even in high-pressure situations".

Naomi Rees-Issitt, who has campaigned for all police vehicles in the UK to be equipped with defibrillators, has welcomed the move.

'Vital step'

She set up the OurJay Foundation in memory of her 18-year-old son Jamie Rees, from Wolvey, in Warwickshire, who died after suddenly collapsing on New Year's Day.

He could have lived, doctors later said, if officers or the public had quicker access to a defibrillator.

She said the development was "a huge win for public safety and a testament to the power of community campaigning", adding: "Jamie's legacy lives on through initiatives like this."

Ch Supt Sarah Burton, head of the operations unit, said it was a "vital step forward" in the ability of the force to respond to emergencies.

"Our officers are often first at the scene of serious incidents and having defibrillators on board gives them the tools to act immediately," she said.

The force used £10,750 secured via the Proceeds of Crime Act, where police seize money from criminal activity and reinvest it into crime prevention and community safety.