Latest News
Expect the unexpected with crowds
Crowd Behaviour for Mass Emergency Evacuations Dr GK Still from Crowd Dynamics Limited, an international consultancy advising on crowd safety, will be speaking at this year’s conference outlining the main principles in the theory and application of the science of crowd dynamics. Although not always a traditionally perceived danger, the events in Birmingham this weekend illustrated you can never do enough preparation when handling unpredictable crowds. Following a free concert which attracted a much larger than expected crowd, Birmingham City Council took the decision to abandon the event because of concerns for public safety. A multi agency response ensured fatalities were avoided when nearly four times the anticipated attendees came to see band JLS. In his presentation, Keith will be looking at the development of a generic model that would be applicable to all events, turning a risk assessment into a dynamic analysis as risks change with time, as shown in Birmingham. Current projects being carried out by Crowd Dynamics Limited included the development of Myriad - an assortment of safety analysis tools and techniques used around the world for modelling crowd dynamics and dynamic risk assessment software for event planning. To register for this key event, visit
http://www.theemergencyservicesshow2009.com/conference.html
E-Newsletter
Click on the link below and read the latest Show E-Newsletter from David Holden, Editor of Emergency Services Times.
http://www.theemergencyservicesshow2009.com/newsletter.lasso
More than just theory
The Emergency Services Show 2009 will share more than just theory. Throughout the exhibition there will be live action displays and products to see, whilst practical demonstration will also extend to the integral conference. John Harrison, the project manager for the National Resilience Extranet, will be providing a full demonstration of the National Resilience Extranet with colleagues from Datel, as part of the latest update on the application. With the objective to illustrate how simple it is to share files and work in a collaborative environment, the demonstration will show the creation of workgroups; how to include new members from different organisations into these groups; and will also look at using the ‘Collaborate Tool’ to respond to an incident by using the Events and Briefings functions. The networking opportunities presented by the integral conference provide an exclusive opportunity to join decision makers from other agencies and are an invaluable way to develop interagency collaborations, initiatives and strategies. The Emergency Services Show provides an ideal environment to gain a better understanding of emergency response issues and a forum to debate these with like minded professionals. For a full conference programme and to register for this key event, visit
http://www.theemergencyservicesshow2009.com
Bruce Mann launches consultation to improve the resilience of critical infrastructure
Improving the Resilience of Critical Infrastructure
Following the floods in 2007, through his report Sir Michael Pitt identified a gap in the Government’s policy-making and delivery towards the protection of critical infrastructure from severe disruption caused by natural hazards. He recommended that the Government hould “establish a systematic, coordinated, cross-sector campaign to reduce the disruption caused by natural events to critical infrastructure and essential services”.
The Cabinet Office has therefore launched a consultation on its Strategic Framework and Policy Statement on improving the resilience of critical infrastructure that sets out the proposed policy intent, scope, aims, timescales and workstreams for such a programme.
The Strategic Framework and Policy Statement has been released for discussion with Government, regulators, industry groups and infrastructure owners and operators.
In a covering letter written by Bruce Mann, Director Civil Contingencies, Civil Contingencies Secretariat for the Cabinet Office, he comments: “In particular, I would welcome views on how the Government might best and most proportionately set standards for resilience, and on the potential impact and costs of setting any such standards.”
To see the full report visit the UK Resilience website www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/ukresilience. Responses can be sent to naturalhazards@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk. The closing date for responses is noon on Monday 18 January 2010.
Bruce Mann will be giving the keynote presentation at The Emergency Services Show 2009. To register for the conference visit