Welcome

The Government's aim is to reduce the risk from emergencies so that people can go about their business freely and with confidence. This website exists to provide a resource for civil protection practitioners, supporting the work which goes on across the UK to improve emergency preparedness.

Scotland and Emergencies

Glasgow Airport Attack - June 30th 2007

The range of emergencies that society faces today is wider and more complex than before. Part of the everyday role of emergency response organisations, including the Executive, is to ensure that flexible plans are in place to deal with any disruptive challenges. These flexible plans have at their base the concept of resilience. That is to detect, prevent and, if necessary, to handle and recover from disruptive challenges.

Civil Contingency Planning

Related Information

* Responding to an Emergency

Civil contingency planning is designed to anticipate, guard against, prevent, reduce or overcome any risk, harm or loss that may be associated with natural, technological or man-made crises or disasters in peacetime. Scottish emergency planning and response is based on the principles of Integrated Emergency Management. The basis of IEM is that plans for emergencies should focus on the effects of events rather than their casues. Contingency planning is part of the everyday business of government and public and private bodies. The purpose is to ensure that flexible plans are in place to deal effectively with any emergency, major or minor, foreseen or unforeseen - from horrific events such as the 7/7 London bombings to more common problems such as flooding along river courses - but the basic principles of assessing risks, identifying preventive measures, preparing and testing plans, responding to emergencies and assisting a rapid return to normality remain valid whatever the type of incident.

Emergencies will require different responses, but responsibility should normally lie with the emergency services and local authorities directly involved.

Where government is involved, responsibility for any action supporting the response rests with the 'lead' Executive department which is the one that has day to day policy responsibility for the subject. For example, the Health Department will lead on emergencies involving public health and Environment and Rural Affairs will deal with flooding. Where the lead is unclear because of the nature of a particular incident, responsibility would rest with the Justice Department.

The basic principle applied in Scotland and the UK is of local management of incidents. Eight regional Groups throughout Scotland, led by the Chief Constable and Local authority Chief Executives, make detailed plans for all types of incidents in their area. These plans are exercised regularly and all groups have experience of dealing with different types of emergencies.

At the Scottish level the Executive chairs the Scottish Emergencies Co-ordinating Committee (SECC), which ensures that steps are taken to respond to the changing risk environment. It also ensures that work is co-ordinated with the UK Government's Civil Contingencies Secretariat. Membership of SECC includes Executive Departments, emergency services, local authorities and the Military.

At Scottish Ministerial level sits the Ministerial Group on Civil Contingencies (MGCC) chaired by the Minister for Justice and comprising the Ministers for Environment and Rural Development, Finance and Public Service Reform, Health and Community Care, Transport, Parliamentary Business and Lord Advocate.

Preparing Scotland