Inspector Sands is a code phrase used by public transport authorities in the Uni

ted Kingdom, including Network Rail and London Underground, to alert staff and o
ther agencies, such as the police, to an emergency or potential emergency such a
s a fire or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic.[1][2][3]
The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for ex
ample "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" o
r "Would Inspector Sands please report to Platform 2".
Inspector Sands at Euston
MENU0:00
Announcement used at Euston railway station
Problems playing this file? See media help.
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the
station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The
message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announce
ment on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire al
arm call point in a public area has been operated. If an automatic fire detector
in a non-public area is operated, or more than one device or zone reports a fir
e, the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automa
tically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to a
lert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention.[4] The automa
ted nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasiona
lly been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by s
tation staff.
"Mr. Sands" has long been used in theatres, where sand buckets were used to put
out fires, as a code for fire. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to ei
ther performers or audience.
Inspector Sands is a code phrase used by public transport authorities in the Uni
ted Kingdom, including Network Rail and London Underground, to alert staff and o
ther agencies, such as the police, to an emergency or potential emergency such a
s a fire or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic.[1][2][3]
The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for ex
ample "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" o
r "Would Inspector Sands please report to Platform 2".
Inspector Sands at Euston
MENU0:00
Announcement used at Euston railway station
Problems playing this file? See media help.
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the
station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The
message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announce
ment on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire al
arm call point in a public area has been operated. If an automatic fire detector
in a non-public area is operated, or more than one device or zone reports a fir
e, the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automa
tically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to a
lert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention.[4] The automa
ted nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasiona
lly been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by s
tation staff.
"Mr. Sands" has long been used in theatres, where sand buckets were used to put
out fires, as a code for fire. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to ei
ther performers or audience.

Inspector Sands is a code phrase used by public transport authorities in the Uni
ted Kingdom, including Network Rail and London Underground, to alert staff and o
ther agencies, such as the police, to an emergency or potential emergency such a
s a fire or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic.[1][2][3]
The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for ex
ample "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" o
r "Would Inspector Sands please report to Platform 2".
Inspector Sands at Euston
MENU0:00
Announcement used at Euston railway station
Problems playing this file? See media help.
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the
station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The
message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announce
ment on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire al
arm call point in a public area has been operated. If an automatic fire detector
in a non-public area is operated, or more than one device or zone reports a fir
e, the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automa
tically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to a
lert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention.[4] The automa
ted nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasiona
lly been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by s
tation staff.
"Mr. Sands" has long been used in theatres, where sand buckets were used to put
out fires, as a code for fire. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to ei
ther performers or audience.
Inspector Sands is a code phrase used by public transport authorities in the Uni
ted Kingdom, including Network Rail and London Underground, to alert staff and o
ther agencies, such as the police, to an emergency or potential emergency such a
s a fire or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic.[1][2][3]
The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for ex
ample "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" o
r "Would Inspector Sands please report to Platform 2".
Inspector Sands at Euston
MENU0:00
Announcement used at Euston railway station
Problems playing this file? See media help.
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the
station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The
message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announce
ment on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire al
arm call point in a public area has been operated. If an automatic fire detector
in a non-public area is operated, or more than one device or zone reports a fir
e, the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automa
tically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to a
lert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention.[4] The automa
ted nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasiona
lly been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by s
tation staff.
"Mr. Sands" has long been used in theatres, where sand buckets were used to put
out fires, as a code for fire. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to ei
ther performers or audience.

Inspector Sands is a code phrase used by public transport authorities in the Uni
ted Kingdom, including Network Rail and London Underground, to alert staff and o
ther agencies, such as the police, to an emergency or potential emergency such a
s a fire or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic.[1][2][3]
The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for ex
ample "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" o
r "Would Inspector Sands please report to Platform 2".
Inspector Sands at Euston
MENU0:00
Announcement used at Euston railway station
Problems playing this file? See media help.
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the
station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The
message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announce
ment on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire al
arm call point in a public area has been operated. If an automatic fire detector
in a non-public area is operated, or more than one device or zone reports a fir
e, the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automa
tically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to a
lert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention.[4] The automa
ted nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasiona
lly been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by s
tation staff.
"Mr. Sands" has long been used in theatres, where sand buckets were used to put
out fires, as a code for fire. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to ei
ther performers or audience.
Inspector Sands is a code phrase used by public transport authorities in the Uni
ted Kingdom, including Network Rail and London Underground, to alert staff and o
ther agencies, such as the police, to an emergency or potential emergency such a
s a fire or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic.[1][2][3]
The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for ex
ample "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" o
r "Would Inspector Sands please report to Platform 2".
Inspector Sands at Euston
MENU0:00
Announcement used at Euston railway station
Problems playing this file? See media help.
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the
station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The
message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announce
ment on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire al
arm call point in a public area has been operated. If an automatic fire detector
in a non-public area is operated, or more than one device or zone reports a fir
e, the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automa
tically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to a
lert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention.[4] The automa
ted nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasiona
lly been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by s
tation staff.
"Mr. Sands" has long been used in theatres, where sand buckets were used to put
out fires, as a code for fire. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to ei
ther performers or audience.

Inspector Sands is a code phrase used by public transport authorities in the Uni
ted Kingdom, including Network Rail and London Underground, to alert staff and o
ther agencies, such as the police, to an emergency or potential emergency such a
s a fire or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic.[1][2][3]
The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for ex
ample "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" o
r "Would Inspector Sands please report to Platform 2".
Inspector Sands at Euston
MENU0:00
Announcement used at Euston railway station
Problems playing this file? See media help.
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the
station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The
message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announce
ment on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire al
arm call point in a public area has been operated. If an automatic fire detector
in a non-public area is operated, or more than one device or zone reports a fir
e, the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automa
tically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to a
lert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention.[4] The automa
ted nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasiona
lly been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by s
tation staff.
"Mr. Sands" has long been used in theatres, where sand buckets were used to put
out fires, as a code for fire. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to ei
ther performers or audience.
Inspector Sands is a code phrase used by public transport authorities in the Uni
ted Kingdom, including Network Rail and London Underground, to alert staff and o
ther agencies, such as the police, to an emergency or potential emergency such a
s a fire or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic.[1][2][3]
The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for ex
ample "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" o
r "Would Inspector Sands please report to Platform 2".
Inspector Sands at Euston
MENU0:00
Announcement used at Euston railway station
Problems playing this file? See media help.
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the
station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The
message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announce
ment on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire al
arm call point in a public area has been operated. If an automatic fire detector
in a non-public area is operated, or more than one device or zone reports a fir
e, the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automa
tically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to a
lert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention.[4] The automa
ted nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasiona
lly been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by s
tation staff.
"Mr. Sands" has long been used in theatres, where sand buckets were used to put
out fires, as a code for fire. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to ei
ther performers or audience.

Inspector Sands is a code phrase used by public transport authorities in the Uni
ted Kingdom, including Network Rail and London Underground, to alert staff and o
ther agencies, such as the police, to an emergency or potential emergency such a
s a fire or bomb scare without alerting the public and creating panic.[1][2][3]
The exact wording depends on the station, and the nature of the incident, for ex
ample "Would Inspector Sands please report to the operations room immediately" o
r "Would Inspector Sands please report to Platform 2".
Inspector Sands at Euston
MENU0:00
Announcement used at Euston railway station
Problems playing this file? See media help.
The automated public address announcement can be generated automatically by the
station's fire warning system, or can be triggered from the station control. The
message audio file is usually stored as the primary standard emergency announce
ment on the station PA/VA system. The message may indicate that a single fire al
arm call point in a public area has been operated. If an automatic fire detector
in a non-public area is operated, or more than one device or zone reports a fir
e, the system will start the evacuation procedure and the fire brigade is automa
tically called. The announcement can be triggered by the station controller to a
lert station staff of other incidents which need urgent attention.[4] The automa
ted nature of the announcement and its high priority means that it has occasiona
lly been known to cut into manual (lower priority) announcements being made by s
tation staff.
"Mr. Sands" has long been used in theatres, where sand buckets were used to put
out fires, as a code for fire. The word "fire" backstage would cause alarm to ei
ther performers or audience.