Planning and management of major incidents
Who does what when the unthinkable happens?
The agencies involved with incidents, and their work and dutes under law during a major incident
For P2, which was on the frst assignment of this unit, I researched the impacts of the Shoreham Air Disaster on the
community, environment, and on the emergency services who bravely dealt with the situaton. The incident
occurred at the Shoreham air show, which took place annually at Shoreham Airport in West Sussex and was run by
the Royal Air Force Associaton. On the week of the incident, 50 aircraf were scheduled to take to the skies for
display fights during the two-day event. Among them was a vintage Hawker Hunter jet, fown by pilot Andy Hill.
Eyewitnesses say the plane had just begun its fight and was performing a loop when it failed to pull out of the
manoeuvre and crashed into trafc on a busy main road, the A27. As a result, a major incident was declared.
The agencies involved with this incident were vast. It was a huge mult disciplinary efort, with the usual services
present; the ambulance service, fre brigade, police force, air ambulance and highway ofcers. The Civil Aviaton
Authority, the RAF and its charites were also present to help resurrect the tragic scenario as best as possible, and
provide support to those afected. It was also their job to consider the future of air shows, and the kinds of aircraf
that performed in them. Furthermore, third party organisatons such as utlity and transport providers would have
given their help in moving those involved from the area, are fxing broken utlity equipment such as electricity
poles. However, the roles of the main three agencies present at the scene are specifed below.
Police: The role of the police service at the Shoreham Air Disaster was to collaborate and distribute casualty
informaton, preserve the scene for evidence, investgate the cause of the disaster, identfy the deceased, ensure
the entry and exit at the incident was secure, control civilians, and cordon of areas.
Fire Service: At the Shoreham Air Disaster, the fre service would have fought the aircraf fre on the A27,
conducted a search and rescue around the direct site of the incident to be sure no civilians were trapped in their
cars, ensured the safety of the site before allowing other emergency personnel to enter, and established
decontaminaton units where necessary. If the aircraf had hit a tanker travelling on the A27 containing any
substances hazardous to people or the environment, this step would have been necessary to prevent harm.
Ambulance Service: The ambulance service would have been present at the disaster to triage possible injuries,
establish a designated casualty loading area, transport people to hospital, and ensure good supply and correct use
of lifesaving medical equipment and medicatons.
The Civil Contngencies Act 2004 and the Contngency Planning Regulatons 2005 set the statutory guidance for civil
protecton in the UK at local level. They place a legal obligaton on local authorites and other organisatons to
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Who does what when the unthinkable happens?
The agencies involved with incidents, and their work and dutes under law during a major incident
For P2, which was on the frst assignment of this unit, I researched the impacts of the Shoreham Air Disaster on the
community, environment, and on the emergency services who bravely dealt with the situaton. The incident
occurred at the Shoreham air show, which took place annually at Shoreham Airport in West Sussex and was run by
the Royal Air Force Associaton. On the week of the incident, 50 aircraf were scheduled to take to the skies for
display fights during the two-day event. Among them was a vintage Hawker Hunter jet, fown by pilot Andy Hill.
Eyewitnesses say the plane had just begun its fight and was performing a loop when it failed to pull out of the
manoeuvre and crashed into trafc on a busy main road, the A27. As a result, a major incident was declared.
The agencies involved with this incident were vast. It was a huge mult disciplinary efort, with the usual services
present; the ambulance service, fre brigade, police force, air ambulance and highway ofcers. The Civil Aviaton
Authority, the RAF and its charites were also present to help resurrect the tragic scenario as best as possible, and
provide support to those afected. It was also their job to consider the future of air shows, and the kinds of aircraf
that performed in them. Furthermore, third party organisatons such as utlity and transport providers would have
given their help in moving those involved from the area, are fxing broken utlity equipment such as electricity
poles. However, the roles of the main three agencies present at the scene are specifed below.
Police: The role of the police service at the Shoreham Air Disaster was to collaborate and distribute casualty
informaton, preserve the scene for evidence, investgate the cause of the disaster, identfy the deceased, ensure
the entry and exit at the incident was secure, control civilians, and cordon of areas.
Fire Service: At the Shoreham Air Disaster, the fre service would have fought the aircraf fre on the A27,
conducted a search and rescue around the direct site of the incident to be sure no civilians were trapped in their
cars, ensured the safety of the site before allowing other emergency personnel to enter, and established
decontaminaton units where necessary. If the aircraf had hit a tanker travelling on the A27 containing any
substances hazardous to people or the environment, this step would have been necessary to prevent harm.
Ambulance Service: The ambulance service would have been present at the disaster to triage possible injuries,
establish a designated casualty loading area, transport people to hospital, and ensure good supply and correct use
of lifesaving medical equipment and medicatons.
The Civil Contngencies Act 2004 and the Contngency Planning Regulatons 2005 set the statutory guidance for civil
protecton in the UK at local level. They place a legal obligaton on local authorites and other organisatons to
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