4 Flashcards
What is a Major Incident?
An event or situation with a range of serious consequences which requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder agency.
A Major Incident can be declared by a police officer of any rank.
Who can declare a Major Incident?
A police officer of any rank.
Other agencies have their own protocols for declaring a Major Incident.
Can a Major Incident for one agency be different for another agency?
Yes, a Major Incident may be declared by one agency but not necessarily by another.
For example, the Glasgow Art School Fires were a Major Incident for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service but not for the Police.
What role does the Police play in a Major Incident?
The Police coordinate the activities of responding agencies.
This is under the direction of the Procurator Fiscal, especially in relation to investigation and identification of the dead.
What is an Operationally Challenging Incident?
Any incident that has the potential to compromise the ability of the Force to provide an appropriate and professional response without specialist support or redeployment of resources.
The definition can vary based on several factors, including nature, time, location, and resource availability.
Is every Major Incident also an Operationally Challenging Incident?
Yes, a Major Incident called by the police is also an Operationally Challenging Incident.
However, not every Operationally Challenging Incident meets the definition of a Major Incident.
What is the ‘METHANE’ mnemonic?
Explain the ‘METHANE’ mnemonic.
Specific details about the mnemonic were not provided in the text.
What is the purpose of ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ Cordons?
Explain the purpose of ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ Cordons.
Specific details about the cordons were not provided in the text.
What is the relationship between ‘scene and siege incident responses’?
Confirm the relationship between ‘scene and siege incident responses’.
Specific details about the relationship were not provided in the text.
What defines a Critical Incident?
Explain what a Critical Incident is.
Specific details about Critical Incidents were not provided in the text.
What is a key action for officers at the scene of a Major Incident?
Remain calm and avoid undue stress affecting communication.
First officers at the scene play a vital role in the outcome of the incident.
What should a first responder assess upon arrival at an incident?
Priorities regarding the severity of the situation and required assistance
What is the METHANE principle used for?
To declare a Major Incident
What is the first priority for a first responder at an incident?
Preserve Life
What should a first responder avoid before engaging in rescue?
Getting involved until it is both safe and effective
List the key priorities a first responder should consider
- Preserve Life
- Prevent escalation
- Ensure the safety of all
- Preservation of the scene
- Minimise disruption to community
- Secure/detain offenders
- Ensure due process of law
- Return to normality
What does the term PIO stand for?
Police Incident Officer
What is the role of the Bronze Commander?
Operational Commander in charge at the scene
What does the Silver Commander do?
Tactical Commander operating remotely to support the Bronze Commander
What is the function of the Gold Commander?
Strategic Commander with an overview of the entire incident
True or False: Not all Major Incidents will require all three levels of command support.
True
Fill in the blank: The PIO is the officer at the locus who is in charge of the _______.
incident
What is the purpose of securing evidence at an incident?
Preservation of the scene
What does it mean to ‘return to normality’ in the context of incident response?
Restoring the situation to its pre-incident state
What should the first officer on scene treat the initial incident as?
A crime scene until proved otherwise or in situations involving natural disasters.
Why is identifying a safe path/route important for the first officer?
Your safety is paramount and if threatened will render you unable to offer any further assistance.
What mnemonic should be used to communicate about a Major Incident?
METHANE
What does the ‘M’ in METHANE stand for?
Major Incident declared?
What should you clearly state to your Area Control Room if it is a Major Incident?
I am declaring a Major Incident.
What does the ‘E’ in METHANE refer to?
Exact Location
What information should be provided regarding the location of the incident?
Be as precise as possible and utilise landmarks if appropriate.
What does the ‘T’ in METHANE stand for?
Type of incident
Give examples of types of incidents you might report.
- Flooding
- Fire
- CBRN
- Explosion
What does the ‘H’ in METHANE represent?
Hazards Present, potential or suspected
What should be considered regarding hazards present at a Major Incident?
- Potential severity of the impact
- Flammable or noxious substances
- Are casualties nearby?
What does the ‘A’ in METHANE refer to?
Access/Rendezvous Point (RVP)
What should be identified regarding access routes?
Access routes that are safe to use and the safest point for emergency services to gather.
What does the ‘N’ in METHANE stand for?
Number, type, severity of casualties
What details should be provided about casualties?
Be as accurate as possible regarding their condition, e.g., walking wounded or unable to move.
What does the ‘E’ in METHANE refer to?
Emergency services present and those required
What information should be communicated about emergency services?
What services are already there and who else do you need?
What is the role of the first officer arriving at the scene?
To assess and report the extent of the problem
The first officer should take immediate measures to understand the situation.
What are the two types of cordons that should be established?
Inner and outer cordons
These should be established in consultation with other emergency services.
When should the cordons be established after an incident?
As soon as practicable
The creation of an inner cordon should be an early priority.
What is the purpose of the Forward Control Point (FCP)?
To maintain command and control at the incident site
The FCP should be safe and suitable, located within the outer cordon.
How should the first police vehicle at the scene be identifiable?
By the use of its blue lights
Other police vehicles should extinguish their blue lights unless necessary for safety.
What is the primary role of a police officer during a major incident?
To preserve life
Officers should not immediately get involved in rescue work.
What should the first officer on scene provide instead of engaging in rescue work?
A METHANE update
This ensures that appropriate support is put in place for incident management.
What does METHANE stand for in the context of major incidents?
Message, Event, Time, Hazards, Action, Needs, and Environment
It’s a brief to inform the ACR about the situation.
What is the Rendezvous Point (RVP)?
The location where resources attending the incident book in
It allows the PIO to know who is present and what support is available.
What may happen to vehicles and equipment after booking in at the RVP?
They may be sent to a separate Marshalling Area
This depends on the availability of suitable space.
What should be used for logging details of the incident?
Tri-Service or Major Incident Log
Initially, a police issue notebook or mobile device can be used.
True or False: The RVP and the Marshalling Area are always the same.
False
They may be separate depending on space availability.
What is the initial responsibility of the PIO regarding communication?
Maintain contact with the Area Control Room (ACR) and consider requesting a dedicated Airwave talk group to prevent confusion.
What is one of the key roles of the police at the scene of a major incident?
Co-ordinate response of emergency services at scene.
Who chairs multi-agency meetings during a major incident?
Police.
What is the role of the PIO until relieved?
Act as PIO until relieved by an officer of more senior rank (if appropriate).
What are the components of the outer cordon in an incident?
CCS, ALP, Incident, MA, Safe Route.
What are the components of the inner cordon in an incident?
RVP, FCP, Wind Direction, MLP.
What does CCS stand for?
Casualty Clearing Station.
What does RVP stand for?
Rendezvous Point.
What does ALP stand for?
Ambulance Loading Point.
What does MLP stand for?
Media Liaison Point.
What are police cordons used for?
Guard the scene of an incident, protect the public, control onlookers, and prevent unauthorized interference.
Why are police cordons considered essential?
They form part of the overall incident structure and provide a secure area between the cordons for responders to operate within.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is used to clear casualties at a major incident.
Casualty Clearing Station.
True or False: Not every incident will require all aspects of the incident diagram.
True.
What is the primary purpose of the inner cordon?
To provide immediate security of the incident site and allow operations to continue safely.
Who should be allowed within the inner cordon?
Only those who are appropriately trained and in full PPE.
What types of hazards may be present within the inner cordon?
Special hazards or potential extreme danger, such as unstable buildings or chemicals.
Who typically has the responsibility for the inner cordon?
The PIO (Public Information Officer).
Under what circumstances can the responsibility for the inner cordon be passed to the Fire Incident Commander?
When fire personnel are deployed directly within the hazard zone with specialist equipment and expertise.
What is the purpose of the outer cordon?
To control a wide area surrounding the incident site and create a secure area for resources and equipment.
How does the outer cordon help prevent public access?
By preventing members of the public and media from gaining access to the area surrounding the incident site.
What should be done if approached by the media while posted to an outer cordon?
Avoid divulging information and refer them to the Media Liaison Point (MLP).
What factors influence the space required within the controlled area of the outer cordon?
The type and scope of the incident and the availability of personnel.
What should be used to assist in establishing a cordon?
Fences, walls, and natural boundaries.
What should be done with access and exit points of the cordon?
They should be staffed and persons seeking access vetted.
What is the recommended distance between the inner and outer cordon?
Large enough for responders to work within and keep all safe.
What should be avoided when establishing a cordon?
Including domestic or commercial premises.
Can siege incidents be considered major incidents for the police?
False, they may be better placed under Operationally Challenging Incidents or Critical Incidents.
What principles can be applied to the management of siege incidents?
The principles applied to the management of a Major Incident can be applied effectively.
What term is used to describe incidents like train crashes, explosions, fires, and floods?
Scene
What is an example of a siege incident?
Hostage type incident
What are the initial priorities of Police Scotland in siege incidents?
Contain, isolate, evacuate (if necessary), negotiate
How do the initial actions of the first officer at a siege incident compare to those at a major incident?
They are almost identical
What is a critical incident defined as?
Any incident where the effectiveness of the police response is likely to have a significant impact on the confidence of the victim, their family and/or the community
What is an example of a potential critical incident?
Death in police custody or a hate crime targeting a vulnerable group
What should the first officer do if they are the first to attend a siege incident?
Engage in informal negotiations until a trained negotiator arrives
What does METHANE stand for in the context of police communication?
Keep your Controller fully updated
What tone should the first officer maintain during negotiations?
Calm and neutral
What type of questions should the first officer use during negotiations?
Open questions
Fill in the blank: The safety of yourself and others includes ensuring you have an _______.
Escape route
True or False: The first officer should make promises during negotiations.
False
What should the first officer do to assist the negotiator later?
Make notes of all information
Discuss with your class what other agencies and departments you think may be required at a Major Incident.
What criteria should be applied when considering if an incident may be a critical incident?
• Effectiveness
• Likely
• Significant Impact
Effectiveness relates to professionalism, competence, and integrity in police response. Likely refers to the potential impact on confidence, while Significant Impact pertains to the effect on individuals, families, or communities.
What does ‘Effectiveness’ measure in the context of a police incident?
A measure of the professionalism, competence, and integrity evident in the police response to an incident.
This criterion assesses how well the police handle the situation.
What does ‘Likely’ refer to when assessing police incidents?
Whether incidents could have a significant impact on public confidence.
This criterion helps determine the potential seriousness of an incident.
How should ‘Significant Impact’ be interpreted?
Particular to each incident, critically relating to the impact on the individual, family, or community.
This criterion emphasizes the varying effects incidents can have on different people.
What is the operational role of a police officer at a critical incident?
To take the lead co-ordination role until relieved.
This includes managing the incident until further assistance is available.
What is the first action a police officer should take upon attending a critical incident?
Send a METHANE format update to the Control Room.
METHANE is an acronym used in incident management.
What does FCP stand for in the context of incident management?
Forward Command Post.
This is a location from which the incident can be managed effectively.
What should a police officer establish after identifying the FCP?
Identify the initial Rendezvous Point (RVP).
The RVP is where personnel and resources can be coordinated effectively.
What are the initial cordons that a police officer should put in place at an incident?
Initial Inner and Outer cordons.
These cordons help secure the area and manage access.
What is the purpose of identifying safe routes to both FCP and RVP?
To ensure safe access and egress during an incident.
This is crucial for the safety of responders and civilians.
True or False: The initial attending police officer has no role in coordinating a critical incident.
False.
The initial officer takes a lead coordination role until relieved.
Fill in the blank: It is important for police officers to remain _______ during incidents.
calm
Staying calm allows officers to apply learned principles effectively.
What is the ultimate goal of following the principles in incident management?
To provide suitable solutions for a speedy conclusion and benefits for all those concerned.
Effective management of incidents can improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
What criteria should be applied when considering if an incident may be a critical incident?
• Effectiveness
• Likely
• Significant Impact
Effectiveness relates to professionalism, competence, and integrity in police response. Likely refers to the potential impact on confidence, while Significant Impact pertains to the effect on individuals, families, or communities.
What does ‘Effectiveness’ measure in the context of a police incident?
A measure of the professionalism, competence, and integrity evident in the police response to an incident.
This criterion assesses how well the police handle the situation.
What does ‘Likely’ refer to when assessing police incidents?
Whether incidents could have a significant impact on public confidence.
This criterion helps determine the potential seriousness of an incident.
How should ‘Significant Impact’ be interpreted?
Particular to each incident, critically relating to the impact on the individual, family, or community.
This criterion emphasizes the varying effects incidents can have on different people.
What is the operational role of a police officer at a critical incident?
To take the lead co-ordination role until relieved.
This includes managing the incident until further assistance is available.
What is the first action a police officer should take upon attending a critical incident?
Send a METHANE format update to the Control Room.
METHANE is an acronym used in incident management.
What does FCP stand for in the context of incident management?
Forward Command Post.
This is a location from which the incident can be managed effectively.
What should a police officer establish after identifying the FCP?
Identify the initial Rendezvous Point (RVP).
The RVP is where personnel and resources can be coordinated effectively.
What are the initial cordons that a police officer should put in place at an incident?
Initial Inner and Outer cordons.
These cordons help secure the area and manage access.
What is the purpose of identifying safe routes to both FCP and RVP?
To ensure safe access and egress during an incident.
This is crucial for the safety of responders and civilians.
True or False: The initial attending police officer has no role in coordinating a critical incident.
False.
The initial officer takes a lead coordination role until relieved.
Fill in the blank: It is important for police officers to remain _______ during incidents.
calm
Staying calm allows officers to apply learned principles effectively.
What is the ultimate goal of following the principles in incident management?
To provide suitable solutions for a speedy conclusion and benefits for all those concerned.
Effective management of incidents can improve outcomes for individuals and communities.
