At a press conference at Warwickshire Police headquarters on 28 November, police gave their most detailed account yet of their inquiry into the fire at the Atherstone on Stour vegetable packing warehouse.
Chief superintendent Paul Mason-Brown explained the process involved in the deconstruction and search of the warehouse. He said:
“The warehouse sits in a rural area near to Stratford, is very large – and covers an area of approximately four football pitches side by side. It was used as a fruit and vegetable processing and packing plant for distribution around the country. The layout of the warehouse ranges from single full-height storage areas to a two storey layout in parts. There is a basement level under part of the building. The ground floor is divided into nine bays, each one four and a half to five metres deep and each one used for different purposes from preparation through to distribution. The upper floor was primarily used as office space.”
“You can see the enormity and complexity of the task ahead of us. Our aim is to retrieve all potential evidence to assist in the investigation into how the fire developed and spread. Before the search began, we got expert advice from structural engineers, health and safety specialists, forensic search experts and reclamation teams to ensure we search safely and thoroughly.”
“The site is still unstable and special safety precautions have had to be put in place. An air raid style warning system has also been installed to warn of any sudden change in the building. There will be no entry into the building.”
“Before we deconstruct each element, the area is filmed.”
“Deconstruction started last Thursday working on half a bay at a time, working right hand side, left hand side through the building. As we are deconstructing each half of a bay, we are removing the debris and searching through it outside of the deconstruction area. Each piece of evidence recovered from the site is logged and stored. We expect to recover a number of computers from office space inside the building, which will be subject to preservation and examination in due course. We have started at the loading bay, which is the bay at the near end of the building as you have viewed it, and we anticipate this will take at least a week to clear. As each phase of deconstruction and search is completed, all the information will be passed onto the investigation team.”
“Around 20 officers, both police search officers and specialist search officers from other forces across the country are involved in the search. A police cordon protects the scene. We anticipate the forensic deconstruction of the site and associated search will take until at least the end of January and perhaps longer.”
“We are limited to good daylight working only, on health and safety grounds.”
“We have already removed tonnes of fruit and vegetables from the rear of the building, much of which had perished, causing a problem with rodent infestation on the site and slight delays in the operation. There will be further areas to clear as the search progresses which will delay the investigation further. The basement however has been cleared of around 8″ of water and waste, which had seeped into it as the fire was being controlled and extinguished. It was removed in tanks and analysed to make sure there was no pollution before being disposed.”
“We are doing our best to minimise disruption to other local businesses who need road access to the site. There are traffic issues which we are conscious of and any closure of the road by the factory is to protect those working inside.”
“The full cost of this operation and the police investigation is not known at this time. We have obtained all the specialist experience and equipment necessary to do the job right. We are determined that all possible evidence is recovered to assist the search for truth. The costs identified to date are estimated to be approaching GB pound 2 million. However, our priority is to complete a comprehensive search and costs will not affect that.”
Speaking about the police investigation, detective superintendent Ken Lawrence said:
“From the operational update you will understand the massive challenges we face to ensure that every piece of evidence from the scene is captured and preserved. It will be several months before a full picture of events can be formed, but we are determined to progress as quickly and as professionally possible. I currently have around 90 officers and staff working on this major investigation, which is a police-led joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive, Fire Service, Forensic Science, architectural experts and building regulations officers.”
“Currently we have officers from Staffordshire, West Mercia, Gloucestershire, West Midlands and Cambridgeshire Police, who are providing invaluable assistance and we are grateful for that support.”
“Initially we thought we had 160 warehouse staff to interview, but this has increased to amost 400. We have conducted approximately 100 interviews so far.”
“Some interviews require translators when the member of staff’s first language is not English. This is a slow but necessary process. Eleven languages are represented in the workforce, the three main ones being Polish, Lithuanian and Slovak.”
“If people do not want to speak to the police, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers has interpreters available.”
“We have interviewed most non-Warwickshire fire fighters who attended the scene from other Brigades.”
“We have completed interviews with around half of the Warwickshire fire fighters. These have been carried out with a great deal of sensitivity, taking the time to avoid trauma which many of the fire fighters have already suffered.”
“We anticipate it will take until at least Christmas to take all the statements.”
“We have already obtained 400 documents relating to the investigation.”
“I am appealing for anyone with information to contact the Incident Room on 01789 444685 or CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111. People can also send information to the incident room via the Warwickshire Police website www.warwickshire.police.uk.”
To view the full police press conference, click on the link below:
