'Public safety' should be made a priority following Nottingham attacks
The survivors have voiced their concerns
Survivors of the 2023 Nottingham attacks, Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller, have voiced their concerns over the findings of a public Inquiry into the tragic event.
Speaking through their legal representative, Greg Almond, Head of Serious Personal Injury at Rothera Bray Solicitors, the survivors highlighted systemic failures across multiple public bodies.
Greg Almond read a statement at the Rothera Bray Solicitors offices in Nottingham, detailing the distressing experiences of Birkett and Miller in the aftermath of the attacks.
Wayne Birkett and Sharon Miller, both Nottingham residents, sustained life-changing injuries during the attacks while commuting to work.
Almond said the Inquiry revealed failures to appropriately recognise and respond to their injuries, including a severe brain injury sustained by Birkett.
He continued by suggesting critical gaps and missed opportunities arose from poor coordination between agencies, leading to devastating consequences.
The statement expressed the survivors’ dismay at the lack of adequate support, with fundamental rights overlooked and essential adjustments not made to accommodate their injuries.
He said Birkett and Miller often found themselves secondary in the police’s communication process, learning distressing information through media channels that should have been delivered to them directly.
Looking forward, the survivors are calling for better public safety measures and increased funding for major cities outside of London, the South East, and Manchester.
The survivors emphasised the importance of accountability, transparency, and meaningful change, hoping to engage directly with government officials, including the Victims’ Commissioner, Baroness Merron, and the Home Secretary.
Their aim is to prevent similar events from happening again and to ensure proper support is provided to victims in future incidents.