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For the latest information and news stories in relation to the Highlands and Islands Strategy group (HISCG) please visit the news page.

All you need to know about HISCG

In 2004 the UK Civil Contingencies Act replaced both the Civil Defence Act 1948 and the emergency Powers Act 1920, and addresses the contingency planning and emergency responsibilities of Local Authorities (and other agencies, such as the emergency services) , as well as providing the framework by which governement may invoke emergency powers. The Act aims to deliver a single framework for civil protection in the United Kingdom, taking into account a range of possible threats such as:

  • Transport accidents
  • Major flooding and other severe weather events
  • Major disruptions to business activities, and
  • National health threats , such as Pandemic Influenza

In Scotland the responsibility of ensuring the aims of the Act are achieved is devolved to the Scottish Government Civil Contingencies. This Department has very close liaison with the Hghlands and Islands Strategic Co-ordinating Group both in pre event planning as well as during any response to an incident or major emergency.

HISCG itself is a multi agency group committed to making the Highlands and Islands of Scotland a safer place by ensuring that we and our partners can respond effectively when incidents do occur.

The group was initially set up in May 1998 to promote Integrated Emergency Management throughout the Highlands and Islands, with the aim of ensuring optimum response by the emergency services , public bodies and support agencies in the event of a major civil emergency or natural disaster.

The Highlands and Islands Strategic Co-ordinating Group meets three times a year at locations throughout the Highlands and Islands.  The current Chairman of the group is the Chief Constable of Northern Constabulary. 

OPERATIONAL AND TACTICAL LEVEL ARRANGEMENTS

To ensue that the planning and preparation is well managed at all levels within the Highlands and Islands communities there are a number of specific operational planning groups all reporting into HISCG.

The Highlands and Islands Emergency Planning Group (HIEPG)

This group was set up in January 1999 to deal with pan Highlands and Islands issues as identified by either the Highland s and Islands Strategic Co-ordinating Group (HISCG) or the four local authoriites groups/forums. HIEPG will advise the HISCG on policy and strategic direction in relation to all emergency planning matters. HIEPG meets four times per annum, six weeks prior to and six weeks after the HISCG meetings. It is a planning group only. It will not meet as a specific group in the event of an emergency. It has no operational jurisdiction.

HISCG Capability Groups

All of the potential major emergencies identified in the Highlands and Islands Community Risk Register will have a number of generic consequences that will require multi agency pre determined arrangements in order to mitigate their impacts. HISCG has created six capability groups formed from members of the relevant partner agencies who are tasked with producing generic integrated arrangements for dealing with the consequences of any major emergencies. The capability groups meet in a planning role only. They do not neccessarily covene in an actual major emergency.

There are six HISCG capability groups for the following six subject areas:

1. Risk assessment
2. Communicating with the public
3. Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear
4. Welfare
5. Recovery
6. Human Health


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