This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.
The recovery phase is usually coordinated by local authorities. Actions taken during the early stages of the response can significantly influence the recovery process. It is advisable to consider the recovery phase at an early stage.
A recovery working group (RWG), generally chaired by an executive member of the local authority, is established during the response process. The chair of the RWG is expected to sit on the strategic coordinating group (SCG).
During the response process, the SCG should determine the criteria for establishing when the lead coordinating authority passes from the lead agency to the local authority. There should be a formal handover from the lead agency to the local authority to clearly mark the change of responsibility. This occurs at a time agreed by the SCG.
At this time, the SCG becomes the recovery coordinating group (RCG), absorbing the role of the RWG. The police should be represented at the RCG. Police officers and staff can be deployed to support the work of the RCG where appropriate.
Actions following a major incident
Before standing down or handing over, strategic commanders should satisfy themselves of the following by liaising with tactical and operational commanders.
- The emergency is contained and there is no significant risk of resurgence.
- Public safety measures are in place and working effectively.
- If required, a handover of any ongoing actions or issues has been undertaken with the relevant local authority or other agency.
A joint decision to stand down a major incident declaration should then be communicated by the strategic coordination group. The major incident stand-down decision and supporting rationale should be recorded. This should be passed to control rooms to communicate to all organisations notified of the initial major incident declaration. The strategic commander should then hand over to the recovery working group.
The recovery process consists of the:
Lead coordinating authority
Local authorities lead the coordination of the recovery process, including chairing and providing the secretariat of the RCG. The RCG links into the regional or national organisations required to support the recovery process. The procedures to transfer the role of lead coordinating authority from the police to the local authority should be agreed by the SCG prior to it evolving into the RCG.
Before handing over lead coordination agency responsibility, the SCG should be satisfied that:
- there is no known further risk to life
- there are no serious public disorder or crime prevention issues that may have an impact on the overall strategic coordination of the incident
- the fire and rescue service and ambulance service are operating at a level that does not require the police service to coordinate and facilitate their activity
- circumstances dictate that it is more appropriate for the responsibility to rest with the local authority
- the focus of the strategic command, control and coordination is on recovery rather than response
- the local authority is confident in assuming the role
- the local authority is satisfied that they have the infrastructure and processes ready to assume the role
Relief phase
The priority of the relief phase is to provide initial relief to those people directly affected by the emergency or major incident. It commences early during the incident, and can run concurrently with the rescue phase during the response process.
Although the overall coordination of the incident is led by the police, local authorities and supporting agencies are responsible for the relief phase.
Key actions of this phase include:
- assessing the needs of survivors and evacuees
- providing rest centres
- providing water, food, clothing and shelter
- establishing humanitarian response
- providing public health advice
- providing information to the public and businesses
- assessing community cohesion issues
Remediation phase
Local authorities usually coordinate this phase. The key elements are:
- providing medium-term and long-term support to survivors and evacuees
- making good the area affected
The remediation phase may involve:
- establishing a humanitarian assistance centre
- developing an action plan for handing back buildings or areas within cordons to the appropriate owners
- site clearance
- restoring public services
- holding public meetings with those affected by the incident
- coordinating action by insurers to facilitate recovery
Regeneration phase
This phase addresses the long-term consequences of the emergency or major incident. Measures to prevent or reduce the likelihood or impact of such an event occurring again should be considered, with a view to improving the area affected beyond a level that existed prior to the incident. Local authorities usually coordinate this phase.
This may involve:
- consulting on regeneration matters
- identifying measures to promote economic regeneration
- monitoring long-term health
- rebuilding affected areas where required
- considering memorials