Chapter 10 - Command & Control • Civil defence

Question 1

Section 86 of CDEM act what can you do?

Answer 1

Evacuation of Premises and Places

If a state of emergency is in force and in the opinion of the controller or any constable the action authorised by this section is necessary for the PRESERVATION OF HUMAN LIFE, that person or a person authorised by him or her may direct within the area or district in which the emergency is in force

• The evacuation of any premises or place including any public place or
• The exclusion of persons or vehicles from any premises or place including any public place

Question 2

Section 87 of CDEM act what can do you do?

Answer 2

Entry on Premises

If a state of emergency is in force in ANY area, a controller or a constable or any person acting under the authority of a constable or controller may enter on and if necessary break into any premises or place within the area of the district which the state of emergency is in force if they believe in reasonable grounds that the action is necessary for

• Saving life, preventing injury or rescuing and removing injured or endangered persons
• permitting or facilitating the carrying out of any urgent measure for the relief of suffering or distress

Question 3

Section 88 of the CDEM act what can you do?

Answer 3

Closing of roads and public places

If a state of emergency is in Force a controller or a constable or any person acting under the authority of a controller or constable or any person so authorised in a relevant civil defence emergency management place may in order to prevent or limit the extent of the emergency totally or partially prohibit or restrict public access with or without vehicles to any road or public place within the area of or district in respect of which the state of emergency is in force.

Question 4

Section 89 of the CDEM act what can you do?

Answer 4

Removal of aircraft vessels vehicles etc

If a state of emergency is in force a controller or a constable or any other person acting under the authority of the controller or constable may in or order to prevent or limit the extent of the emergency

• remove from any place within the area or district in respect of which the state of emergency is in force any aircraft hovercraft ship or ferry or other vessel train or vehicle impeding civil defence emergency management and

• if reasonably necessary for that purpose use force or break into the aircraft hovercraft ship or ferry or other vessel train or vehicle

Question 5

What are the three command and control elements ? (LDC)

Answer 5

Leadership
Decision Making
Control

The controller / commanders role is to provide leadership, make decisions within their authority to act and to ensure that their directives are implemented by exercising control. While accountability remains with the Controller/Commander, various elements of leadership decision making and control can be delegated.

It is vitally important that the controller/commander ensures that the key decisions are recorded or documented. Such key decisions must be recorded in the decision log.

Question 6

Police conduct duties within three specific command levels what are they?

TOS

Answer 6

Tactical
Operational
Strategic

Not all incidents or events require commanders to be appointed at the operational or strategic level. However any tactical level or incident or event no matter how minor has tactical level commander.

Question 7

What are the Command and Control Environments?

Answer 7

The police command and control system will be utilised in a variety of environments including

• Business as usual
• Riding tide incidents
• Critical incidents
• Major critical events
• Planned operations
• Spontaneous operations

Question 8

Command Operating Levels TACTICAL

Answer 8

Tactical Command

Tactical Command is the level within which police resources are directly deployed within the community. Almost all policing occurs at the tactical command level.

Individuals, teams and groups of police at the tactical command level when answering calls for service attending an incident or involved in activities such as executing a search warrant.

Functions undertaken by the tactical level commander include

• Command of the inner cordon
• Command of the immediate situation
• Command of all police resources within cordons
• Command within the intent provided by the operational commander and strategic commander
• Manage inter-agency coordinations at the tactical level

Question 9

Command Operating Levels OPERATIONAL

Answer 9

The operational command level exists when there are multiple tactical level activities or when the complexity of the situation requires a higher level of command.

Functions undertaken by the operational level commander include :

•command of the overall incident or incidents (including the overall police response)
•command over resource distribution to support tactical commanders
•command the response outside the area of tactical deployment (eg and AOS operation)
•manage an interagency coordination at the operational level
•command the response within the strategic commanders intent (if one is appointed)

Question 10

Command Operating Levels STRATEGIC

Answer 10

The strategic command level is applied when the scope, consequence, community or political implications of an event/a is significant and requires dedicated attention.

Functions undertaken by the strategic commander include:

• command the overall police response
• command multiple operational level activities (eg cross district events)
• command the community consultation response
• provide a liaison between the operation and the police executive government, media and agencies

Question 11

Principles of Command & Control

What are the obligations of Command & Control ?

Answer 11

A Controller or Commander has responsibility for community safety, the health and well-being of staff and the wider reputation of Police. Controllers and Commanders must ensure that at all times they behave Lawfully, Ethically and Professionally.

Question 12

Principles of Command & Control

Unity of Command and Control

Answer 12

There can only be one Command or Control structure or command and control authority at any one time. The Controller/Commander is responsible for the successful outcome of the operation and has the authority to control all police and other agency resources committed to the operation. As well as overall command and control. This principle also relates to task or phase specific parts of an operation, included delegated authority. There must be a clear chain of control or command. All units in the chain of control or command must be aware of their immediate superiors, subordinates and inter-agency counterparts.

Question 13

Principles of Command & Control

Span of Command and Control

Answer 13

There is a limit to the number of units a Controller or Commander can effectively control or command. While the span of control or command must be flexible. It should be limited so that the controller or commander does not become overloaded. The internationally recommended span of control is between 2 to 7 direct reports, depending on the complexity of the incident or operation. A controller or Commander must be given sufficient capacity and capability within their span of control or command execute the mission.

Question 14

What is the appreciation format used by the New Zealand Police “AFCO”

Answer 14

The appreciation format used by New Zealand Police is:

• Aim
• Factors
• Courses of Action
• Outline Plan

Question 15

What is the NCCC and where is it located

Answer 15

National Command & Coordination Centre

Located at PNHQ

Question 16

Operation Orders

What is a GSMEAC?

Answer 16

Operation Orders and the briefing of police personnel will be issued in the GSMEAC format

• Ground
• Situation
• Mission
• Execution
• Administration & Logistics
• Command Signals

Question 17

Section 91 of the CDEM act what can you do?

Answer 17

While a state of emergency is in force, a controller or a constable or any person acting under the authority of the controller or member of police may

• Direct and person to stop any activity that may cause or subsequently contribute to an emergency
• request an person , either verbally or in writing to take an action to prevent or limit the extent of the emergency.

(2) While a state of emergency is in force a controller or a constable or any person acting under the authority of controller or constable may direct

• the owner of a structured ( or the owners agent) to obtain an assessment of the effect of the emergency (and any related subsequent events) on the structure
• the owners of structures of a particular type (or the owners agent) to obtain assessments of the effect of the emergency (and any related subsequent events) on the structure that they own.

(3) A person may not give a direction under section 2 (above) unless the person has had regard to whether the structure or type of structure may, in the circumstances, pose a risk of injury or a risk of safety of life or the safety of other property.

(4) a direction given under subsection (2) must
• state the purpose of the assessment and specify the assessment that is required and
• specify a reasonable time within which the assessment must be concluded.
• require the owner (or owners agent) to give a copy of the assessment to the person who gave the direction.

(5) An owner (or owners agent) who is given a direction under subsection (2) must

• obtain the assement which must be conducted in accordance with the direction and at the owners expense and
• give a copy of the assessment to the person who gave the direction.

(6) the owner (or owners agent) may appeal to the district court on the grounds that the direction is unreasonable.

(7) section 77(2) and (3) applies in relation to an appeal under subsection (6) with any necessary modifications and section 77(4) does not apply

(8) Any relief that may be granted under subsection (6) is limited to the reasonable costs associated with obtaining the assessment.

Question 18

Section 92 of the CDEM act what can you do ?

Answer 18

Power to carry out inspections

While a state of emergency is in force a controller or a constable or anyone acting under the authority of a controller or constable may examine mark seize sample secure disinfect destroy any property animal or any other thing in order to prevent or limit the extent of the emergency.

Question 19

Section 93 of the CDEM act what is required of you ?

Answer 19

Person exercising emergency powers to provide proof of identity

A person exercising a power conferred on hun or her by police must

• have with them and produce if requested to do so evidence of their identity.
• if requested to do so produce evidence of or give a general explanation of the authority under which they are acting and the powers they are exercising.

Question 20

Offences under the CDEM Act

Answer 20

Section 95 - Failure to comply with requirement in civil defence emergency management plan

• A person commits an offence who intentionally fails to comply with a requirement in a civil defence emergency management plan

Section 98 - Obstruction

• A person commits an offence who during a state of emergency threatens, assaults , intentionally obstructs or hinders and person in the person exercise or performance , power , or duty under this act

Section 104 - Penalty for Offences

•a person who commits an offence against this act is liable on conviction

a) in the case of an individual to imprisonment for a term bit exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or both
b) in the case of a body corporate to a fine not exceeding $50,000

Question 21

Revocation of control responsibility

Answer 21

If the Shift Commander determines that the person appointed incident controller is no longer the most appropriate person to fulfil the role the shift commander may exercise the delegated authority of the District Commander to revoke the appointment. They may then either undertake the incident control themselves, or appoint another incident controller or elect to appoint multiple incident controllers to control different phases of the major incident.

Question 22

Sequence of Information - The 6 Steps

Answer 22

To put the event information into a useable format, communicators use a process known as Six Steps.

1. Summary of incident, including weapons.
2. Time delay
3. Direction of travel
4. More of travel
5. Description of offender / vehicles
6. Additional relevant informations (hazards, weapons, etc)