Housing communities and Local Government
Central Government
Action Taken
The NFCC is working with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to share learning from the incident via the NFCC Organisational Learning platform. The letter also states that the Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will be made aware of comments concerning rights of access for ambulance personnel. (AI summary)
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Dear Professor Marks,
Thank you for your letter and report dated 08 July 2025 regarding the death of Mr Peter Ramsden, which was made in accordance with Paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and Regulations 28 and 29 of the coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. I am grateful to you for bringing this case to my attention, and for your conduct of the inquest.
First, I want to express my sincere condolences to Mr Ramsden’s family and friends.
RESPONSE The Government has engaged with the National Fire Chiefs Council as the appropriate body to provide their opinion on the operational matters relating to this issue.
Concerning the legal position, Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs), the legal body overseeing fire and rescue services, cannot lawfully operate under section 17 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. However, they do possess independent statutory powers of entry under section 44 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. In the event of an emergency, section 44(1)(c) and 44(2)(a) of the Act allows authorised FRA personnel to enter premises (by force if necessary) without the consent of the owner or occupier of the premises or place, if they reasonably believe entry is needed to protect life or property. Section 58(a) of the Act defines an ‘emergency’ as an event or situation likely to cause death, serious injury, or serious illness. This definition, in the opinion of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) covers emergency welfare checks where there are reasonable grounds to believe someone may be at risk of death or serious harm. Sections 11 and 12 of the Act complement section 44 of the Act and provide (discretionary) powers to respond to events beyond core FRA functions under the Act, when there is a risk to life, thereby creating the statutory framework for attending incidents in domestic
Professor Paul Marks Senior Coroner Coroner Area of the City of Kingston Upon Hull and the County of the East Riding of Yorkshire The Guildhall Alfred Gelder Street Hull HU1 2AA
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF
12 November 2025
2 OFFICIAL - SENSITIVE
premises with health partners. These powers can be exercised by an FRA outside as well as within its area.
In the opinion of the NFCC consideration could also be given to extend such powers to ambulance services to enable them to make their own entry. This would significantly reduce the reliance on FRAs and could speed up the process to enable a swifter response to potentially life-threatening situations.
The NFCC investigated the case of Peter Ramsden with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service. The Right Care Right Person (RCRP) agreement was used to assess and assign responsibility of the appropriate agency. While FRAs are not explicitly a part of this National Partnership Agreement, the NHS Guidance on implementing these states: “If there are significant concerns about a person and staff cannot gain entry on arrival, then further action should be considered, for example whether it would be appropriate to apply for a warrant under Section 135 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Alternatively, in an emergency, the police or fire and rescue service may need to be contacted (as set out in locally agreed protocols), as they have powers of entry in certain situations.”
Through these locally agreed protocols, FRAs do assist health partners in gaining entry to premises where the request falls within the parameters of the Act. This includes supporting ambulance services where the police involvement threshold has not been met. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service have informed the NFCC that no assistance was requested during the paramedics' first attendance on Mr Ramsden despite local protocols being in place.
Following the tragic death of Mr Ramsden, NFCC are working with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that the learning from this tragic incident is shared with other Fire and Rescue Services via the NFCC Organisational Learning platform.
CONCLUSION We appreciate the very sad circumstances of the passing of Mr. Ramsden. Whilst in the opinion of the NFCC and FRAs, a statutory framework exists for FRAs to support the public in tragic situations like Mr. Ramsden’s, the NFCC suggests there is an argument for an extension of powers to ambulance services as it would improve speed of response and reduce the burden on FRAs . I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to be aware of the comments concerning rights of access for ambulance personnel; I have also asked my officials to engage with their counterparts at DHSC on this topic.
Thank you for your letter and report dated 08 July 2025 regarding the death of Mr Peter Ramsden, which was made in accordance with Paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and Regulations 28 and 29 of the coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. I am grateful to you for bringing this case to my attention, and for your conduct of the inquest.
First, I want to express my sincere condolences to Mr Ramsden’s family and friends.
RESPONSE The Government has engaged with the National Fire Chiefs Council as the appropriate body to provide their opinion on the operational matters relating to this issue.
Concerning the legal position, Fire and Rescue Authorities (FRAs), the legal body overseeing fire and rescue services, cannot lawfully operate under section 17 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. However, they do possess independent statutory powers of entry under section 44 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004. In the event of an emergency, section 44(1)(c) and 44(2)(a) of the Act allows authorised FRA personnel to enter premises (by force if necessary) without the consent of the owner or occupier of the premises or place, if they reasonably believe entry is needed to protect life or property. Section 58(a) of the Act defines an ‘emergency’ as an event or situation likely to cause death, serious injury, or serious illness. This definition, in the opinion of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) covers emergency welfare checks where there are reasonable grounds to believe someone may be at risk of death or serious harm. Sections 11 and 12 of the Act complement section 44 of the Act and provide (discretionary) powers to respond to events beyond core FRA functions under the Act, when there is a risk to life, thereby creating the statutory framework for attending incidents in domestic
Professor Paul Marks Senior Coroner Coroner Area of the City of Kingston Upon Hull and the County of the East Riding of Yorkshire The Guildhall Alfred Gelder Street Hull HU1 2AA
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DF
12 November 2025
2 OFFICIAL - SENSITIVE
premises with health partners. These powers can be exercised by an FRA outside as well as within its area.
In the opinion of the NFCC consideration could also be given to extend such powers to ambulance services to enable them to make their own entry. This would significantly reduce the reliance on FRAs and could speed up the process to enable a swifter response to potentially life-threatening situations.
The NFCC investigated the case of Peter Ramsden with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service. The Right Care Right Person (RCRP) agreement was used to assess and assign responsibility of the appropriate agency. While FRAs are not explicitly a part of this National Partnership Agreement, the NHS Guidance on implementing these states: “If there are significant concerns about a person and staff cannot gain entry on arrival, then further action should be considered, for example whether it would be appropriate to apply for a warrant under Section 135 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Alternatively, in an emergency, the police or fire and rescue service may need to be contacted (as set out in locally agreed protocols), as they have powers of entry in certain situations.”
Through these locally agreed protocols, FRAs do assist health partners in gaining entry to premises where the request falls within the parameters of the Act. This includes supporting ambulance services where the police involvement threshold has not been met. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service have informed the NFCC that no assistance was requested during the paramedics' first attendance on Mr Ramsden despite local protocols being in place.
Following the tragic death of Mr Ramsden, NFCC are working with Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that the learning from this tragic incident is shared with other Fire and Rescue Services via the NFCC Organisational Learning platform.
CONCLUSION We appreciate the very sad circumstances of the passing of Mr. Ramsden. Whilst in the opinion of the NFCC and FRAs, a statutory framework exists for FRAs to support the public in tragic situations like Mr. Ramsden’s, the NFCC suggests there is an argument for an extension of powers to ambulance services as it would improve speed of response and reduce the burden on FRAs . I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to be aware of the comments concerning rights of access for ambulance personnel; I have also asked my officials to engage with their counterparts at DHSC on this topic.