Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Defibrillators in Police Vehicles

08 July 2026 · 3 other contributors · 2,625 words

Opened by Steve Darling Lib Dem Torbay

Responding minister: Sarah Jones

Policing & ResourcesNHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Steve Darling raised concerns about defibrillators in police vehicles in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about lack of defibrillators in police vehicles leading to lower survival rates during cardiac arrests.
  • Jay, an 18-year-old, died due to delayed ambulance response and lack of nearby defibrillator.
  • Minister acknowledged the work of the Our Jay Foundation and noted funding for 750 defibrillators by the Home Office last year.

Key requests to Government

I ask the Minister to take steps to ensure that all police response vehicles are equipped with defibrillators and remove the postcode lottery for emergency medical aid, ensuring that such tools become mandatory in all response vehicles.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Steve Darling Lib Dem Torbay

I am concerned about the lack of defibrillators in police vehicles, which can lead to missed opportunities for saving lives during cardiac arrests. Jay, a young man who had a cardiac arrest at the age of 18, was one such victim due to the delayed arrival of an ambulance and the absence of a defibrillator nearby. The medical evidence shows that for every minute without intervention, there is a 10% reduction in survival rates. Less than 10% of response vehicles across the country have defibrillators as standard equipment.

Other contributors (3)
  • Adam Dance Con Yeovil

    I suggested that police vehicles should not only carry defibrillators but also bleed kits to address other emergencies. Yeovil town council has already introduced both in the community, and I believe similar provisions would be beneficial for emergency response.

  • Amanda Hack Lab Normanton

    I shared the lead MP's sadness over Jay's death and agreed that rural constituencies face issues with access to defibrillators. I highlighted a 'defib dash' campaign in my constituency which found an average return journey time of 12 minutes on foot, making the case for emergency vehicles equipped with such devices.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    I supported the idea of equipping police vehicles with defibrillators such as CU Medical iPAD SP1 or Defibtech Lifeline AUTO, stressing that trained officers must have these tools to save lives during cardiac arrests and other emergencies.

Government Response

Sarah Jones

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir John. I congratulate the hon. Member for Torbay on securing this important debate and thank him along with other Members for their contributions. The Minister acknowledged the work of the Our Jay Foundation, which has raised about £800,000 to fund hundreds of defibrillators and provided an evidence base showing lives saved as a result. Last year, 750 defibrillators were funded by the Home Office before she became Minister; some are in police vehicles while others are in buildings. Currently, approximately 27% of police vehicles have defibrillators, though there is concern within policing about the role versus other emergency services and training requirements for first aid. The Minister stated that she is having conversations with police forces to understand any concerns regarding defibrillators and that there is a step-by-step approach towards funding more defibrillators in police vehicles. There is a national police service reform underway, presenting an opportunity to procure necessary equipment nationally and decide on standard items for all police vehicles. The Minister intends to engage further with policing over the next few months regarding this matter.

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