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PART 2
(B). MEASURES TAKEN DURING THE OPERATION
7.62.
We turn now to the measures that were intended to reduce the risk
of injury and to protect the citizens during the operation. The 2001 Commission
of Enquiry urged the JCF to better anchor its operations in sound risk
assessments, including risks to the security forces as well as citizens.
7.63.
DCP Hinds was asked if the failure of the residents to take up the
offer of evacuation affected his risk assessment. He answered –
“The residents being in the community where we were likely
to do an operation was always considered. We knew that,
even if some residents took up the invitation, not all would.
So we were dealing with larger numbers than if they had
taken up the invitation…..We would have factored greater
numbers of persons being in the space than if some had
taken up the invitation…..The purpose of the invitation to
remove them by buses was simply to allow us to deal with
fewer persons in the space.”
7.64.
The types of planned measures taken during the combat stage of
the operation included:
•
determining an appropriate date and time for the operation
to minimise risks to the population;
•
managing the movement of the population;
•
selecting and using appropriate weapons systems;
•
briefing and supervising members of the security forces
properly;
•
making the physical environment safe during the operation;
•
providing for emergency medical services.
These matters are discussed below under sub-heads (i) to (v).