Civil emergencies reference material

Civil emergencies — Authorised Professional Practice

Summary

The Civil Emergencies reference material under the Authorised Professional Practice (APP) provides UK police officers with comprehensive guidelines on civil contingencies and disaster victim identification. It encompasses various aspects, including preparation, response, recovery, legislation, planning, and the roles and responsibilities associated with managing civil emergencies. The APP highlights the importance of command, control, and coordination in responding to emergencies and the need for effective risk assessments and business continuity planning. Officers are also guided on the humanitarian aspects of emergency management, ensuring support for individuals affected by emergencies, and appropriate handling of fatalities during operational engagements.

Key principles

1Importance of command, control, and coordination in emergencies
2Need for comprehensive risk assessments
3Focus on business continuity and recovery planning
4Clear delineation of roles and responsibilities for disaster victim identification
5Humanitarian support for individuals affected by emergencies

Defined terms

Civil Contingencies Act 2004: An Act to make provision about the civil contingencies which may impact the United Kingdom.
Coroners Act 1998: An Act that governs the investigation of deaths in certain circumstances.
Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984: An Act that covers measures to be taken to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015: Regulations designed to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances.

Full guidance

This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.

Civil emergencies APP contains references to the following:

Cabinet Office. (2004). The lead government department and its role – Guidance and best practice(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (2006). Emergency preparedness(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (2006). Expecting the unexpected: Business continuity in an uncertain world(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (2010). Emergency responder interoperability: lexicon(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (2010). Expectations and indicators of good practice set for category 1 and 2 responders(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (2011). List of lead government departments’ responsibilities for planning, response, and recovery from emergencies(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (2011). The role of local resilience forums(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (2013). Local resilience forums: contact details(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (2013). Preparation and planning for emergencies(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (2013). Risk assessment: How the risk of emergencies in the UK is assessed(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (2016). Human aspects emergency management: Guidance on supporting individuals affected by emergencies . * Cabinet Office. (2020). National Risk Register 2020(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (n.d.). Dealing with disaster: Revised third edition(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Cabinet Office. (n.d.). Fact Sheet 2: National Security Risk Assessment(opens an external website in the same tab) . * College of Policing. (2013). Major investigation and public protection(opens an external website in the same tab) . * College of Policing. (2024). Code of Ethics

Department for Communities and Local Government. (2016). Site clearance capability: A guide for effective local planning, response and recovery . * Department for Communities and Local Government. (2017). The Bellwin scheme of emergency financial assistance to local authorities: Guidance notes for claims 2017 to 2018 . * Department of Justice NI. (n.d.). Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM)(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Disaster Action. (2008). Working with Disaster Survivors and the Bereaved: Code of Practice on Privacy, Anonymity and Confidentiality(opens an external website in the same tab) . * GOV.UK. (n.d.). Air Accidents Investigation Branch(opens an external website in the same tab) . * GOV.UK. (n.d.). Highways England(opens an external website in the same tab) . * GOV.UK. (n.d.). Marine Accident Investigation Branch(opens an external website in the same tab) . * GOV.UK. (n.d.). Rail Accident Investigation Branch(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Health and Safety Executive. (2010). Striking the balance between operational and health and safety duties in the Fire and Rescue Service(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Health and Safety Executive. (n.d.). COMAH – Guidance(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Health and Safety Executive. (n.d.). Control of major accident hazards (COMAH)(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Health and Safety Executive. (n.d.). HSE and major accident hazard (MAH) pipelines(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Health and Safety Executive. (n.d.). Pipelines health and safety(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Health and Safety Executive. (n.d.). Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations 2001 (REPPIR))(opens an external website in the same tab) . * HM Government. (2013). Emergency Response and Recovery(opens an external website in the same tab)

Home Office. (2004). Guidance on dealing with fatalities in emergencies(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Home Office. (2009). ‘Guidance on the safe handling of contaminated fatalities’ (restricted, not hyperlinked). * Home Office. (2015). The strategic policing requirement(opens an external website in the same tab) . * JESIP. (2016). Joint Doctrine: The Interoperability Framework – Edition 2(opens an external website in the same tab) . * JESIP. (n.d.). JESIP(opens an external website in the same tab) . * National Highways. (n.d.). National Highways(opens an external website in the same tab) . * National Police Chiefs’ Council. (n.d.). National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC)(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Office of Rail and Road. (n.d.). Office of Rail and Road(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Ordnance Survey. (2015). ResilienceDirect – Keeps UK crisis resilient(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Ordnance Survey. (n.d.). ResilienceDirect(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Ready Scotland. (n.d.). Ready Scotland(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Scotland. Parliament. (2019). Cremation (Scotland) Regulations 2019(opens an external website in the same tab)

Scotland. Parliament. (2016). Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 2016(opens an external website in the same tab) . * UK Government and Welsh Assembly Government. (2004). Concordat between the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government on the Civil Contingencies Act 2004(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2005). The Civil Aviation (Investigation of Military Air Accidents at Civil Aerodromes) Regulations 2005(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2004). Civil Contingencies Act 2004(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2015). The Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2015(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1998). Coroners Act 1998(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2004). Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1980). Highways Act 1980(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1999). The Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1996). The Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1996). Police Act 1996(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1984). Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (1984). Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2001). The Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001(opens an external website in the same tab) . * United Kingdom. Parliament. (2000). Terrorism Act 2000(opens an external website in the same tab) . * Welsh Government. (2019). Wales Resilience Forum: What we do(opens an external website in the same tab) .

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Reproduced from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice under the Open Government Licence v3.0, as captured on 2026-06-27. APP is amended over time — check the source link below for the current version. This is a reference, not operational authorisation.

APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice and is updated over time. For the current, official version — including any operational detail not reproduced here — go direct.

Read the full APP guidance

Source: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.