Hazard Knowledge

Major incidents are likely to be complex, protracted, and involve many different agencies in their resolution. The scale of such incidents, the impact on large numbers of people over a wide area and the potential demand this will put on local resources mean that additional levels of response arrangements will be required. Without a higher degree of co-ordination, communication and command and control ensuring effective joint working at every level of the incident, the risk to the public, responders and to the successful resolution of the incident will be increased.

Strategic co-ordination arrangements are designed to support and compliment tactical and operational command, not replace them. Strategic co-ordinating groups should always operate at an appropriate level and degree of detail to be effective.