NCJ Number
56459
Journal
MASS EMERGENCIES Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (1978) Pages: 41-48
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
SOME TYPICAL DISASTER INCIDENTS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED, AND THE GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POLICE IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
SOME TYPICAL SITUATIONS DESCRIBED, WHICH IN THE PAST HAVE PRODUCED MAJOR DISASTERS, INCLUDE A BUILDING COLLAPSE IN A SHOPPING CENTER, A MAIN-LINE TRAIN CRASH, AN AIR CRASH IN OPEN COUNTRY, AN AIR CRASH CLOSE TO A TOWN OR CITY, AN AIR CRASH ON A TOWN OR CITY, A LARGE PASSENGER-CARRYING AIRCRAFT CRASH ON A CITY, A BOMBING INCIDENT, A HIGH RISE BUILDING FIRE, AN INDUSTRIAL EXPLOSION, AN OVERTURNED CHEMICAL TANKER, A MULTIVEHICLE ROAD CRASH, A FLOOD, A LARGE PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION, AND A TOTALLY UNFORSEEN INCIDENT. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE TO EACH TYPE OF DISASTER ARE INDICATED BRIEFLY. BECAUSE POLICE HAVE PATROL CARS IN 24-HOUR OPERATION, THEY ARE USUALLY THE FIRST PEOPLE TO ARRIVE AT THE DISASTER SCENE. BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE FOLLOWING RESPONSIBILITIES ARE LISTED AS BEING PRIMARILY FOR POLICE: PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY, RENDERING FIRST AID TO VICTIMS, INITIATING EVACUATION WHEN NECESSARY, SEARCHING FOR AND RESCUING THE INJURED, CORDONING OFF THE AFFECTED AREA, ESTABLISHING EMERGENCY SERVICE APPROACH ROUTES, PREVENTING LOOTING IN THE AREA, ENSURING THAT THE OTHER SERVICES ARE INFORMED, CONTROLLING PANIC AT THE SCENE, CONTROLLING AND UTILIZING SIGHTSEERS, CLASSIFYING CASUALTIES ACCORDING TO THEIR INJURIES, ACTIVATING A MUTUAL AID PLAN FOR ASSISTANCE, ORGANIZING AND DIRECTING VOLUNTEERS, AND DETERMINING THE SCOPE OF THE DISASTER. ONCE THE OTHER FULL-TIME EMERGENCY SERVICES ARRIVE AT THE SCENE, THE PRIMARY POLICE TASKS TEND TO CHANGE IN CHARACTER, AND THE SECONDARY AND LONG TERM DUTIES ARE UNDERTAKEN, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: RECOVERY AND PROTECTION OF THE DEAD, MAINTAINING A LOG OF EVENTS, COMPLETING DAMAGE REPORTS, RECOVERING AND SAFEGUARDING PROPERTY, IDENTIFYING THE CASUALITIES AND VICTIMS, NOTIFYING THE NEXT OF KIN OF DEAD AND INJURED, CONTROLLING ENTRY INTO THE AFFECTED AREA, RECORDING THE SCENE BY PHOTOGRAPHY AND DOCUMENTATION, KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH THE PRESS TO ENSURE ACCURATE NEWS COVERAGE, AND RECORDING DETAILS OF PERSONS REPORTED MISSING. POLICE MANAGEMENT PREPLANNING WITH OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF DISASTERS IS CONSIDERED EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND METHODS FOR DOING THIS ARE DISCUSSED. (RCB)