Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Seek assistance for dealing with people

Control Measure Knowledge

Fire and rescue services are likely to require assistance from other agencies for dealing with people at incidents. This assistance could include:

  • Providing welfare or shelter
  • Controlling members of the public, including crowds
  • Dealing with aggressive, violent or illegal behaviour
  • Safeguarding of vulnerable people
  • Providing Right Care, Right Person approaches
  • Providing casualty care

Providing welfare or shelter

Fire and rescue services should liaise with local authorities and other agencies to pre-plan for public shelters, as part of the community risk management planning. They should also assist with the pre-planning of local support service arrangements for people affected by emergencies and have processes and arrangements in place for requesting local emergency support services.

The welfare or shelter arrangements that may be required for people affected by the incident, either directly or indirectly, should be identified. Support for people affected by the incident should be requested from the local authority or other agencies.

The following publications provide detail about such arrangements:

Controlling members of the public

Members of the public may put themselves at risk, or encourage others to put themselves at risk, for example, by attempting to rescue a person, animal or property. Communicating with people about the risks they are taking, or are contemplating taking, may prevent them from entering the hazard area.

It may be necessary to adopt defensive tactics and request that the police control members of the public, especially if they have formed a crowd or if there are signs of aggressive, violent or illegal behaviour. For further information refer to Withdrawal from public disorder.

The safety of personnel must be maintained, even if they are faced with the moral pressure to act.

Safeguarding of vulnerable people

The NFCC framework provides clear instructions on the delivery of core functions, which includes prevention and protection. There is an expectation that fire and rescue services develop partnerships for those identified as vulnerable and at risk from exploitation or abuse.

Fire and rescue services must also have appropriate safeguarding arrangements in place to provide the public with the reassurance and confidence that they have every right to expect. For further information refer to NFCC Safeguarding Guidance for Children, Young People and Adults.

Personnel should follow service processes and arrangements if there may be a need for the safeguarding of vulnerable people.

Right Care, Right Person

The concept of Right Care, Right Person has its origins in the National Health Service (NHS) and policing. It is an approach designed to ensure that when there are concerns for a person’s welfare linked to their mental health, medical or social care issues, a simple principle guides the response. That is the right person with the right skills, training and experience should provide the appropriate level of care and support. Ensuring care is provided by the agency that can best meet the individual’s needs should be the overriding objective to establish; in many cases this will not be the police or the fire and rescue service.

The National Partnership Agreement: Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) has been adopted by some police forces in England and Wales through the implementation of the College of Policing Right Care Right Person (RCRP) toolkit.

Although not bound by the National Partnership Agreement, fire and rescue services should make themselves aware of the approaches that are being used by police forces in their area, and the impact these may have on their fire control, operational and other activities. There may be a benefit in developing a memorandum of understanding with local services, including the police and the NHS, for Right Care, Right Person approaches.

While fire and rescue services in Scotland and Northern Ireland have a responsibility to safeguard vulnerable people, their police forces have not formally adopted the RCRP toolkit.

Person in crisis

Guidance for dealing with a person in crisis, including self-harm and suicide, is provided in Attending an incident involving a person in crisis.

Casualties

In the absence of medical responders, or if there are large numbers of casualties that require assistance, personnel may need to carry out triage or provide casualty care. For further information refer to the guidance contained in Search, rescue and casualty care.

Strategic Actions

Tactical Actions