Zurich Municipal moved its external engagement strategy up a gear at this year’s Conservative Party Conference as Andrew Jepp, Director of Public Services, discussed the future for Major Incident management at a jointly run Fringe event with the New Statesman magazine.
Sharing the platform with Bob Neill, MP Fire Minister and Jon Bernstein, Deputy Editor of the New Statesman, Andrew warned that, with a “perfect storm” approaching, “what worked up to now may not be sufficient for the future”.
In the face of undeniable evidence that major incidents are increasing, with 2011 carrying the trend, he said “a holistic, long-term, joined up approach, consisting not only of response, but also with clarity over responsibility” was needed. This entailed more robust preventative and contingency planning before events, rapid and effective response during events, and learning and remembering the lessons after the event with clear responsibility to act to help manage future risk.
Andrew added that proper coordination was vital to effective major incident management, giving his own view that an over-arching body in the style of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) in the USA could help organise and empower local services to respond effectively to the challenges ahead.
Bob Neill acknowledged the multiple risks faced by the UK from major incidents, noting for example that 1 in 6 homes faced risks from flooding. He praised responders such as the Fire Service for “stepping up to the mark” in taking on the organisational burden of tackling changing risks from incidents such as terror attacks, as well as recognising the importance for better coordination across the key players going forward.
Citing the insurance industry as a “critical partner” in the process, Bob said that the Government would remain open-minded to the spectrum of potential threats and how major incident management was coordinated.
The well attended event featured questions from organisations including Immarsat, who stressed the importance of contingency training for civil servants, particularly in departments with high turnover rates. A representative from the Local Government Information Unit reiterated Andrew Jepp’s call for a long-term approach to major incidents, rather than “in the moment” responses.
As if to reinforce the event’s timeliness, word spread in the audience of a major explosion and fire causing serious damage to a large industrial estate in Surrey, with responders from across the emergency services in attendance.
In setting out a vision for future major incident management in the face of a changing landscape, not least with the 2012 Olympics on the horizon, Andrew reinforced Zurich Municipal’s unique ability to provide key insights and expertise to customers as a result of its position as market leader in UK Public Sector insurance.
