Recommendation P1-21: LAS and MPS review FSG call protocols
From Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 1 Report, published 30 October 2019.
Recommendation
The LAS and the MPS review their protocols and policies to ensure that their operators can identify FSG calls (as defined by the LFB) and pass them to the LFB as soon as possible.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked ambulance and police services to review fire survival guidance call protocols. In February 2025, the Home Office reported that the London Ambulance Service (LAS) and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) had reviewed their protocols to ensure calls are passed to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), which shared its revised policy and briefing note, and the department considered the recommendation complete (Home Office, Feb 2025). Earlier, in October 2019, Paul Woodrow OBE, Director of Operations at the ambulance service, stated that it welcomed the findings and accepted the recommendations relating to it (Paul Woodrow OBE, Oct 2019).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 19 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
About this summary
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The record reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Government response
The government accepted in principle all the Phase 1 recommendations directed at central government. The Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick presented the formal response to Parliament on 21 January 2020, committing to swift and decisive action including new duties on building owners and managers to provide information to fire and rescue services, install premises information boxes, conduct regular inspections of lifts and fire doors, and equip buildings with evacuation signal facilities. The government stated it had already taken action in advance of the report and was actively looking beyond the remit of these recommendations.
Delivery
Home Office says completed (26 February 2025)
Status: complete
The LFB has informed us that its revised Policy Note 790 ‘Fire Survival Guidance’, published in March 2021, has been shared with the Metropolitan Police Service and the London Ambulance Service, together with a briefing note to support an increased understanding of the policy revisions.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and London Ambulance Service (LAS) have both reported to the Mayor of London that they have reviewed protocols on Fire Survival Guidance calls to ensure these are passed to the LFB. This recommendation is therefore considered to be complete.
From: Progress against the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 recommendations, February 2025
Site note: This is the Home Office's thematic update on progress against the Phase 1 recommendations. Its introduction says it includes updates from the relevant government departments and assurances received from the National Fire Chiefs Council, London Fire Brigade and other emergency services on their progress. The status line and the passage are the Home Office's compilation of what those bodies reported to it; where the passage gives a status for fire and rescue services and a separate one for London Fire Brigade, both are shown as printed.
Earlier statements on delivery (2)
Home Office (16 September 2024)
Status: Complete
The LFB has informed us that its revised Policy Note 790 ‘Fire Survival Guidance’, published in March 2021, has been shared with the Metropolitan Police Service and the London Ambulance Service, together with a briefing note to support an increased understanding of the policy revisions.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and London Ambulance Service (LAS) have both reported to the Mayor of London that they have reviewed protocols on Fire Survival Guidance calls to ensure these are passed to the LFB. This recommendation is therefore considered to be complete.
From: Progress against the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 recommendations, September 2024
Site note: This is the Home Office's thematic update on progress against the Phase 1 recommendations. Its introduction says it includes updates from the relevant government departments and assurances received from the National Fire Chiefs Council, London Fire Brigade and other emergency services on their progress. The status line and the passage are the Home Office's compilation of what those bodies reported to it; where the passage gives a status for fire and rescue services and a separate one for London Fire Brigade, both are shown as printed.
Home Office (5 February 2024)
Status: Complete
The LFB has informed us that its revised Policy Note 790 ‘Fire Survival Guidance’, published in March 2021, has been shared with the Metropolitan Police Service and the London Ambulance Service, together with a briefing note to support an increased understanding of the policy revisions.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and London Ambulance Service (LAS) have both reported to the Mayor of London that they have reviewed protocols on Fire Survival Guidance calls to ensure these are passed to the LFB. This recommendation is therefore considered to be complete.
From: Progress against the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 recommendations, February 2024
Site note: This is the Home Office's thematic update on progress against the Phase 1 recommendations. Its introduction says it includes updates from the relevant government departments and assurances received from the National Fire Chiefs Council, London Fire Brigade and other emergency services on their progress. The status line and the passage are the Home Office's compilation of what those bodies reported to it; where the passage gives a status for fire and rescue services and a separate one for London Fire Brigade, both are shown as printed.
What other bodies have found
In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (30 October 2019)
We welcome the findings and fully accept the recommendations which have now been published from the first phase of the Grenfell Inquiry, as far as they relate to the London Ambulance Service.
From: Our response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase One report, Paul Woodrow OBE, Director of Operations, London Ambulance Service
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Home Office
Delivery statement - London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Finding