The Duke of Cambridge meets representatives of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade at the Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum

On 21 May, the Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum (TTWSF) drowning prevention strategy was launched.  It brings together agencies across maritime, coastal and emergency services to keep the tidal Thames safe for everyone.  Its aim is to reduce the number of avoidable deaths from drowning in the tidal Thames targeting a ‘zero harm’ policy.  In essence the strategy is the TTWSFs suicide prevention strategy.

Ian Stevens attended the launch at HMS President, which focused heavily on interventions in suicide attempts with the rail industry’s Small Talk Saves Lives campaign taking centre stage, with TTWSF partners (Port of London Authority, Lifeboats, Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, HM Coastguard and the London Ambulance Service) pledging to follow our lead in this area.

Prince William was the key speaker at the event and was joined by Jackie Doyle-Price, MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention).  In her presentation Jackie unequivocally sang the rail industry’s praises for all the work it does in the suicide prevention arena.