HISCG Specific Information

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the Civil Contingencies Act (Contingency Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 create responsibilties on a number of organisations in the event of an 'emergency'

Under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 an 'emergency' is defined as an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in a place in the United Kingdom, the environment of a place in the UK, or war or terrorism which threatens serious damage to the securtity of the UK:

An event or situation threatens damage to human welfare only if it involves, causes or may cause;

  • Loss of human life
  • human illness or injury
  • homelessness
  • damage to property
  • disruption of a supply of money, food, water , energy or fuel
  • disruption of a system of communication
  • disruption of facilities for transport, or
  • disruption of services relating to health

An event or situation threatens damage to the environment only if it involves, causes or may cause:

  • contamination of land, water or air with biological, chemical or radioactive matter, or
  • disruption or destruction of plant life or animal life

Each statutory emergency service and other agencies have a responsibility  to serve and protect the public.  Within the Highlands and Islands of Scotland the organisation charged with the strategic management and leadership of these scenarios is the Highlands and Islands Stratgeic Co-ordinating Group. 

Membership of HISCG comprises:

Emergency Services

  • Northern Constabulary
  • Highlands and Islands Fire and Rescue Service
  • Scottish Ambulance Service
  • Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Health Authorities

  • NHS Highland
  • NHS Orkney
  • NHS Shetland
  • NHS Western Isles

Local Authorities

  • Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
  • The Highland Council
  • Orkney Islands Council
  • Shetland Islands Council

Environment Agency

  • Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

Utilities and Military

  • 51st (Scottish) Brigade
  • Scottish and Southern Energy
  • Scottish Water

The following agencies have observer status on HISCG:

  • Procurator Fiscal Service
  • Scottish Government 
  • Animal Health

HISCG area facts and figures

The geographic area of responsibility covered by HISCG is approximatley 31,187 square kilomteres representing almost 40% of the land mass of Scotland. The population within this area is approximaelty 276,400 being only 5.4% of the total population of Scotland.


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