Blue light relay highlights trauma suffered by emergency workers

Staff, who deal with convicted offenders, took delivery of a torch at the top of Blackpool Tower as part of the Blue Light relay.

But they only had their hands on it for a few minutes before it was whisked away to visit colleagues in Lancaster.

The relay was set up by the Our Blue Light – an organisation set up by two Blackpool paramedics to provide trauma counselling. Originally the organisation was only for 999 emergency staff, but has recently been extended to members of the probation service.

Paul Turner, who is wellbeing officer for Blackpool’s probation officers, said: “We have recently set up a service where members of the probation service can talk through problems they may have as a result of trauma in the job.

“There has already been a good uptake for the service. For years, there was no proper counselling available to people who may be involved in traumatic situations as a result of their job.”