General Arrangements

Definition of an emergency
An emergency might be described as an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare or serious damage to the environment or war, or terrorism which threatens serious damage to the security of the United Kingdom and Scotland. Examples of emergencies are floods, rail crashes and industrial action

Principles of response in Scotland
The arrangements for handling civil emergencies in Scotland, and for the rest of the UK, is based on the principles of Integrated Emergency Management (hereafter referred to as IEM) which addresses the consequences of emergencies, not their causes. The underlying aim of IEM is to prepare flexible and adaptable arrangements that will enable effective management of a multi agency response to any crisis in Scotland. Another underlying principle of emergency response is that of subsidiarity. That is, response is founded on a 'bottom up' approach. It is local responders that provide emergency response. The role of Scottish and UK government is to support and reinforce the efforts of local responders.

Civil Contingencies in Scotland
The Scottish Government departments are designated as leads on relevant issues in line with the 'lead department' principle at the UK level. In non devolved areas the Scottish Government works closely with the UK government to ensure that Scottish needs are catered for.

Overall responsibility for civil protection policy in Scotland sits with the Civil Contingencies Division (CCD) of the Scottish Government Justice Department. The Scottish Executive chairs the Scottish Government Co-ordinating Committee (SGCC) which ensures that steps are taken to respond to the changing risk environment and determines the national strategy for the development of civil protection.

At the local level in Scotland, eight strategic co-ordinating groups based on police force areas promote effective planning for all types of incident, making generic and specific emergency plans, engaging with the community, training, testing, exercising and reviewing.


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