Enjoyable:
I'm almost afraid to write this, because this was not "The Bill", a horror movie or a product of the media circus. However, there is something good about knowing how committed, caring people are determined to do something creative when faced with the inexplicable chaos of a major incident. And it struck me that even humour has a part to play when looking at things which are horrible and involve tragedy. Not that Kevin took the subject flippantly, anything but, but moments of humour in the midst of our conversations, somehow made the session more real, more poignant.
Touching:
Yes. Touching to see how a senior police officer, who one might expect to be hardened by his experience of tragedy and humanity has himself a human face. A human being who cares about other human beings in the middle of a crime scene which has become a place of human tragedy. I suspect that feelings which were at times close to the surface in this session were, for me, part of the planning process.
Kevin was happy to share his email address in this article. He can be reached at kevinc.taylor@met.police.uk. The website where the LESLP Major Incidents Procedure Manual can be accessed is http://www.leslp.gov.uk/
Meeting the Emergency Planners.
Steven Willey reflects on the conference session with the Emergency Planners
Kevin Taylor, of the Metropolitan Police and the London Emergency Services Liaison Panel (LESLP) accompanied by his colleague David Sutton, talked and listened to us as we discussed procedure and some of the implications of Major Incident Planning.
What follows is just a taste of a session which, in Kevin's hands, showed that Major Incident Planning can be relevant, informative, interesting, even enjoyable and touching at times.
Relevant:
Hopefully it will never happen, but as a chaplain to a COMAH site (control of major accident hazards) in a residential area, I listened for clues about how I might react if there was a major incident on site. Which police cordons would I cross? Who would I meet there? How would people be organised? Would the Salvation Army offer cups of tea? Answers to all these questions were given from a London perspective and are also in the procedure manual which can be accessed at the website address given below.
Interesting:
To discover what progress has been made in emergency planning. How Archdeacons may be involved and how Critical Incident Chaplains - with valid verifiable identification (not Hospital Chaplains who will be needed elsewhere) and Church volunteers are of recognised value at an incident. How sometimes, in addition to relatives and survivors, the emergency services also need a cup of tea and some caring support.
Informative:
To realise that the site of a major incident is usually hazardous and a crime scene. The importance of the cordons around the tragedy and the evidence. Recognising the need for a shift pattern amongst chaplains and volunteers. The need to respect those who need to do a job unimpeded. The system of central command (Gold, Silver and Bronze) at the incident. The value of maintaining a decision log and learning from mistakes and not talking with the media. (They will be receiving information!)
