Major incidents
Media and communications — Authorised Professional Practice
Summary
This section of the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) focuses on the communication strategies required during major incidents. It emphasizes the necessity for a communications plan that ensures effective public information management 24/7. Key aspects outlined include the need for organized workflow documentation between corporate communications departments (CCDs) and other responsible business areas, timely assessment processes for decision-making, and strategies to manage increased public engagement during crises. Moreover, it highlights the importance of coordination among partner agencies during multi-agency incidents, especially in suspected terrorist situations. Officers are urged to refer to the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 for further guidance.
Key principles
- 1Implement a communications plan for major incidents.
- 2Ensure 24/7 public information management.
- 3Document workflows between corporate communications and business areas.
- 4Establish timely triage processes for assessment and decision making.
- 5Manage increases in public contact during critical incidents.
- 6Coordinate communication between partner agencies for multi-agency incidents.
Defined terms
- Civil Contingencies Act 2004
- No definition provided.
Full guidance
Guidance on engaging with the community, communication platforms and relations with the media
This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.
The head of operations and head of communications should ensure there is a communications plan setting out the special arrangements to be implemented during major incidents. As a minimum, this should include:
arrangements that will be implemented to manage 24/7 public information requirements * documented and audited workflow between corporate communications departments (CCDs) and other business areas responsible for managing or handling public contact or engagement * timely triage processes for assessment and joint decision making between CCD and other business areas, including where co-location may be beneficial * arrangements to deal with increases in contact and engagement during critical and major incidents * the communications coordination arrangements between partner agencies in the event of a multi-agency incident, including a suspected terrorist incident
Police officers and staff should refer to the Civil Contingencies Act 2004(opens an external website in the same tab) .
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Read the full APP guidanceSource: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.