40 police officers hit by food poisoning
MORE than 40 police officers in Birmingham were struck by suspected food poisoning as they marshalled a city centre demonstration, it emerged today.
They were hit by severe diarrhoea and vomiting and several needed hospital treatment for dehydration.
One police boss said some of them were “very, very ill”.
The poisoning is suspected to have come from chicken and stuffing sandwiches which they had eaten for lunch.
The lunches, which usually contain a sandwich, packet of crisps, chocolate bar and piece of fruit, were supplied by an outside contractor and handed to officers as normal when operational commitments prevent them from returning to the station to take a proper meal break.
Today, city environmental health officers were investigating. It is understood the sandwiches were delivered on Saturday morning before later being handed out to the officers as they prepared to police the demonstration which passed off peacefully.
Then, a number of officers stationed around New Street were taken ill. Passengers, shoppers and staff were evacuated from the train station amid fears of a serious incident.
Dozens of fireman, police and ambulance staff rushed to the scene as British Transport Police shut the station at about 5pm on the advice of health agencies. The station re-opened 50 minutes later.
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