Command And Control Flashcards
What does command include?
Leadership, control, effective decision making, behaving lawfully and ethically with a prevention and victim focus.
When responding to an incident what is the primary responsibility?
Incident controller - Risk is managed.
Use TENR
When command is established
Someone must be responsible for assessing known information, formulating a response plan and directing its execution.
Comms initially direct it and must be quickly established “in the field” to ensure coordinated deployment.
Generally the most senior officer has the responsibility to assume command.
It may be better to have qualified members (ie SAR) assume command.
What is freedom of action?
The extent to which a commander can carry out tasks in the field.
Subordinates are permitted maximum freedom to take initiative and exercise their skills/knowledge
Commanders are obliged to follow orders and direction given but exercising “disciplined initiative “ allows commanders to assess information and make decisions to achieve the outcome sought.
There maybe legal, financial, organisational, political and environmental considerations that impact their decisions
What is unity of command and control?
Only one command/control structure.
There must be a clear chain of command.
Each staff member must be aware who their supervisor is, subordinates and interagency counterparts.
Commander has authority to control police and other agency resources committed to the operation.
What is span of command and control?
The limit to the number of people a commander can effectively manage or control.
Recommended span of control is between 2-7 direct reports depending on the complexity of the operation.
A commander must have sufficient capacity and capability within their span of command and control to execute the mission.
What is continuity of command and control?
Command and control must be sustainable.
Must be able to delegate tasks or replacements.
Must have plans so operation isn’t disrupted or delayed.
During planning phase contingency plans must be developed.
What are the obligations of command and control?
Responsibility for community safety, H&S and NZP reputation.
Commanders are accountable for decisions made and their consequences.
Command vs Control
A controller is in “control” of the incident but can only “command” staff in their own agency.
COMMAND - operates vertically within an organisation. Internal ownership, responsibility and direction of an agencies resources.
CONTROL - coordinating and directing the response to an incident. Control includes authority to assign tasks to another agency.
COORDINATION - when command and control is communicated to all response agencies.
What are the 3 levels of command response?
Tactical command
Operational command
Strategic command
What is tactical command?
When resources are deployed directly within a community eg. calls for service
Tactical command is also exercised by commanders of specialist groups eg AOS and SAR.
Function include
1. Cordons
2. Command of immediate situations/response
3. Command of all police resources
4. Manage interagency cooperation
What is operational command?
When multiple tactical activities occur or a complex situation needs a higher lever of command.
Functions include
- Command of over all incident
- Tasking of specialist groups
- Command of resource distribution roles
- Managing consequences of ongoing responses or event development
- Interagency cooperation.
What is strategic command?
When the scope, consequence, community or political implications require management
Functions include
- Command of overall incidents
- Command multiple operational activities
- Command community engagement
- Command consequence management
- Liaison with executive government and media
What are the 4 police operational responses?
- STEADY STATE - BAU
- RISING TIDE - incident develop to an emergency or major incident eg severe weather event/flooding
- SPONTANEOUS INCIDENTS - have no warning develop contingency or response
- PRE-PLANNED OPERATIONS - have opportunity to plan tactics before operation.
What is the appreciation process?
AFCO
A im
F actors
C ources of Action
O utline plan
GSMEAC
Ground
Situation
- General outline
- Assumptions
- Own forces
Mission
Execution
- General outline
- Group details
- Coordinating instructions
Admin & Log
Command and signals
Appendices
What are the CIMS principles?
- Responsive to community needs
- Flexibility
- Unity of effort
What are the CIMS characteristics?
- Common structures, roles and responsibilities
- Common terminology
- Interoperability
- Management by objectives
What are the 7 key functions of CIMS?
- Control
- Intelligence
- Planning
- Operations
- Logistics
- PIM - Public Information Management
- Welfare
Describe CIMS scaling responses
Can be expanded or contracted to manage the type or six of an incident.
A decision to scale a response structure needs to be based on:
- Safety - response personnel, public, property
- Size and complexity - extent of response required
- Span of control (2-7)
Describe - Incident level - single agency - small incident
One agency so command and control is relatively simple.
Forward commander or incident controller has responsibility for CIMS
Incident controller can delegate functions and establish an Incident Management Team (IMT)
Describe - incident level - multi-agency
Management structure expands in relation to the scale and complexity of the response.
Incident controller can change to most senior person at the scene to a more senior official or to the lead agency.
IC supported by IMT
Support agency representatives should be present at the ICP
Describe - incident level - major incident
Large scale and full IMT maybe required.
Response site can be divided into sectors each with an assigned leader.
Describe the CIMS control function
Coordinating and controlling the response.
IMT is headed by the controller who maybe supported by response managers, tech experts,’personal assistants and risk advisors
Describe the CIMS intelligence function
Collection and analysis of response information for things like status, hazards and context.
Describe the CIMS planning function
Overseeing the development of action plans.
- Developing long terms and contingency plans
- planning the transition to recovery
- conveying and conducting planning meetings
- forecasting resourcing requirements
Describe the CIMS operations function
Responsible for the day to day coordination of the response, task planning and implementation of the action plan.
Responsible for volunteer coordination
Operations should include personnel from other agencies, organisations and businesses.
Describe the CIMS operations function
Responsible for the day to day coordination of the response, task planning and implementation of the action plan.
Responsible for volunteer coordination
Operations should include personnel from other agencies, organisations and businesses.
Describe the CIMS logistics function
Responsible from providing and tracking resources to communities and response.
Finance, supply, ICT, Personnel, Admin, catering
Describe the CIMS PIM function
Responsible for informing the public about the response.
Also issue warning and advisories
Spokesperson, information and warnings, media, community liaison
Describe the CIMS welfare function
Responsible for managing consequences of an incident on individuals, communities, family/whanau.
Shelter/accomodation, financial assistance, C&P for children and YP, animal welfare
S41 (1)(j) and (k) of the National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan 2025 make NZP responsible to:
“Coordinate inquiries to assist family, whanau and NOK make contact with each other, and trace missing persons and notify NOK.”
Police is responsible for a process to coordinate inquiries.
Agencies that help police with this phase
- MOE
- MFAT
- DHBs
- NEMA - National Emergency Management Acency
- CDEM
CDEM Act 2002 definition of an emergency.
A situation (ie natural event or man made event ) that causes or is likely to cause loss of life or injury or endanger safety of property
And
Can not be dealt by emergency services and a more coordinated response is required
What is s86 CDEM Act 2002 - evacuation of premises and places
If a state of emergency is in place controller can direct evacuation of any place and exclusion of person from any place
What is s87 CDEM Act 2002 - entry on premises
If state of emergency is in place you may enter any property by force if necessary to save life, prevent injury or remove injured persons
What is s88 CDEM Act 2002 - closing road and public places
State of emergency in place controller can restrict or close public places
With or without vehicles
What is s89 CDEM Act 2002 - removal of aircraft, vessels, vehicles etc
State of emergency in place you can remove any vehicle impeding civil defence management and use force if necessary to enter
What is s90 CDEM Act 2002 - requisitioning powers
State of emergency in place.
Can requisition a wide range of resources if urgently necessary to preserve life
What is s91 CDEM Act 2002 - power to give directions
State of emergency in place
Can direct someone to stop something that might substantially contribute to an emergency or limit the extent of the emergency.
What is s92 CDEM Act 2002 - power to carry out inspections.
State of emergency in place
Examine, mark, seize, sample, secure, disinfect or destroy any property/animal to limit the extent of the emergency.
What is s95 CDEM Act 2002 - failure to comply with requirement of a civil defence emergency management plan
Section 98 - obstruction during a state of emergency any persons performance of a function, power or duty under this act.
Section 104 - imprisonment for 3 months or $5000 fine
Body corporate $50000 fine
What are the key principals of the ECC protocols
Reduce unnecessary radio traffic
Maintain staff and public safety
Reduce dispatcher workload and fatigue
Use consistent language for clear communication
Maintain professionalism
Command and control of incidents
Initially with shift inspector at ECC until the role is formally passed to an incident controller in the field usually sgt or above.
Incident control can remain with ECC and a forward commander on the ground be appointed.
What is a forward commander?
A person in charge of a specific task or group ie. task specific
- senior most qualified person during the initial response
- officer in charge of an element such as AOS, arrest team, cordons etc
A forward commander differs from an incident controller.
What are the immediate actions for a forward commander?
- Attend scene/SFP
- Assume command
- ascertain current and relevant info
- ID hazards/risk and mitigate it
- Provide sit reps
- Do an appreciation form a response plan
- contingency and IA planning
- brief staff and direct activities
What are the considerations for a forward commander?
- staff welfare needs
- continually assess situation
- consider community impacts
- consider/prepare briefing for staff
- establish ICP
- maintain comms with ECC and staff on the ground
- establish liaison with other agencies
- carry out hot debrief.
The six step dispatch process
- Summary of incident
- Time delay
- Direction of travel
- Mode of travel
- Description of offender/vehicle
- Additional info (hazards/weapons)
