Keeping Lincolnshire safe, primed and ready for major incidents

A RAF-led multi-agency emergency planning exercise took place yesterday (Tuesday 21 May) at RAF Donna Nook and RAF Coningsby. The exercise simulated the crash of a RAF Chinook with a number of people on board.  For those in the Commander seats there were subsequent fatalities, with a large environmental spill to contend with.

The purpose of these exercises is to test the collaboration between multiple agencies at all levels in line with the pivotal ‘JESIP’ (Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles) incident response framework, where joint working is critical to saving life and minimising harm in the event of a crisis or major incident occurring.

Participants

Lincolnshire Police had ten personnel involved across two sites, RAF Coningsby and RAF Donna Nook.  Lincolnshire Police’s Drone team provided the vital link from the Operational site to the tactical command site.  Other partner agencies included RAF, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue, Military, Lincolnshire County Council, Maritime Coastguard Agency.

JESIP – the five principles

This served as a golden opportunity for Lincolnshire Police to assess our crash plan and Commander’s JESIP continual professional development. For those unaware, JESIP used to be an acronym for Joint Emergency Service Interoperability Programme when introduced by the Government in 2012. After a few years, the P evolved to Principles:

1. Co-locate. Coming together can be on the back of a fire truck or all the way through to Strategic meeting at a specifically designated response site. This will be single, safe location identified and communicated.
2. Communicate. Keeping interactions jargon free for other agencies who may not know acronyms.
3. Co-ordinate. Agreeing a lead organisation. Invariably Police take primacy initially but can change to more suitable agency. Knowing what resources are available and priorities and response.
4. Jointly understand risk. Every agency will have their own particular specialist hazard awareness and risk to share.
5. Shared Situational Awareness. Getting the exact details as known related to others – like Lincolnshire Police’s Force Control Room, where we receive our emergency calls. Using the METHANE message: Major Incident? Exact location? Type of Incident? Hazards. Access? Number of Casualties? Emergency Services?

John Williams, in charge of Lincolnshire Police’s Emergency Planning division, was at RAF Coningsby on the day, and made the following observations:

“The day was an excellent training opportunity and the enthusiasm and professionalism displayed by Lincolnshire Police was exemplary.  We intentionally give our Commanders very little pre briefing. Emergency Planning adopt the training method of “we possess the skills and experience we have on the day, as if it were a real incident”.  The 1 to 1 debrief afterwards is the opportunity to highlight things that went well and what to consider in the future. The feedback from participants was really positive. I am unequivocally confident, that the Officers on Exercise Ponderosa are now in a far better position to manage a major Incident, than they were before undertaking the experience. Our genuine thanks to the Officers who volunteered and we hope you enjoyed the day and found it thoroughly beneficial.”

Ch Supt Paul Timmins, the Force lead for JESIP at Lincolnshire Police, also shared: “The tragic events of the Manchester Arena Attack in 2017 and subsequent learning for emergency services have shown that when under pressure and in extreme circumstances the ability of Commanders to command can be inhibited. The need to develop “muscle memory” in command decision-making is at the forefront of emergency planning and exercising.

“It has been recognised that many officers within the Lincolnshire Police force have limited JESIP exposure.  After this exercise, an informal debrief to Commanders will be given, which will identify gaps and identify opportunities to fill those gaps – this will provide key development areas to build into the future JESIP training.

“Over the next 12 months we intend to build on our JESIP training by ensuring that every officer from Constable to Inspector across Lincolnshire Police will have effective knowledge around how to operate within JESIP principles.”

Above shows one of the initial JESIP multi-agency meetings. Getting together, assessing the hazards and developing a plan of action.

Above, as the incident developed, viewing drone footage on the screen relaying images from RAF Donna Nook to RAF Conningsby for situational awareness.

With thanks to Wing Commander Jim Errington - the RAF Liaison Officer and Keith Arnold the Manager at Donna Nook for allowing us to capture footage and images of the day.