White powder scare affects seven staff (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

White powder scare affects seven staff

THE emergency services have mounted the first decontamination operation of its kind in Salisbury, after a package containing white powder was received by a city company.

Staff in the post room at HPI, in New Street, discovered the substance last Wednesday morning and immediately alerted the police, which set in motion a large-scale emergency response.

As a precaution, seven members of staff were decontaminated by a special operations response team of the Wiltshire Ambulance Service, and three were taken to hospital.

The powder was later found to be harmless.

The drama started at 9.25am, when white powder spilled on to an HPI employee's hands as she opened an envelope.

Within minutes, the package had been locked in a room, and police, fire and ambulance crews had rushed to the office.

Inspector Kevin Hagger, of Salisbury Police, said: "We had to assume this was a bio hazard that could be terrorist linked.

"We also looked to see if there was any intelligence about why it was sent to this company, and at containment if it did prove harmful." One woman who touched the powder reported irritation on her hands and it was decided that four members of HPI staff undergo basic decontamination procedures, while another three were hosed down before being taken to Salisbury District Hospital.

Nearby Catherine Street was closed and decontamination tents were erected.

The response team, dressed in protective clothing, hosed down the women, who were given paper suits to wear while their clothes were bagged.

Ambulance operations manager Jeff Nash said: "We have this equipment in Salisbury - the government has provided it for trusts, but it is the first time it has been used here.

"We needed to decontaminate these casualties before they could be taken to hospital, otherwise they would have had to shut A&E because of the risk."

The three women were released from hospital later on Wednesday.

HPI marketing manager Martin Wright said: "It was an anxious time for the staff but the powder was harmless and they were back at work the next day."

It was the second time a suspicious package had been delivered to HPI, which runs checks on second-hand vehicles.

The powder received last week was sent to DSTL Porton Down for analysis but was not found to be dangerous.

Inspector Hagger said the police were looking for those responsible for the malicious package, which detained the emergency services for three-and-a-half hours and cost the taxpayer several thousand pounds.

Salisbury fire station commander Phil Jones said: "Since 9/11, the emergency services have had to work in much closer harmony and respond together to this kind of incident.

"But this experience has shown that the public of Wiltshire are safe, and we shall continue to work together to keep them safe."