Ogura gives police a cutting edge

Four police forces in the UK are now successfully using the Ogura modular hydraulic cutter system to assist with forced entry and protestor management operations.

The battery-powered, hydraulic pump can be used with a variety of cutter and spreader attachments, one of which – the HRS Stubby Cutter – has been used by police to cut through chains and D-locks, such as those used by environmental protestors during non-violent but disruptive protests.
The Ogura cutter is supplied by Vimpex Ltd, specialist suppliers of rescue tools and equipment for the emergency services.

It was successfully used by MoD police at Faslane in Scotland to safely manage those protesting against the expansion of the nuclear submarine fleet.

Kent Police Method of Entry (MoE) team has been using the equipment in forced entry scenarios and the Ogura HRS system was also onboard the lead police vehicle during Stage 1 of the Tour de France as it passed through Kent.

The Metropolitan Police used the tools during the high-profile Heathrow Terminal 5 demonstrations.

Peter Appleyard, instructor at the Met’s MoE training centre, said: “We used the Stubby Cutter extensively on the ‘Operation to Police the Climate Camp’ at Heathrow, and found it to be very effective in cutting D-locks and steel braided motorcycle chains.”