Operation Bracknell – United Kingdom policing response to the Asian Tsunami

Report: 9
Date: 27 January 2005
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report provides details of the UK policing response to the Asian Tsunami disaster. It describes the scale of both the MPS and national commitment to this incident. In addition, a national structure for the continued UK response is detailed.

By the very nature of the challenge, figures and statistics change on a daily basis. Within this report, there are statistics quoted, as such these should be treated with due caution.

A. Recommendation

That the MPA notes the extent of the MPS involvement in Operation Bracknell and the move towards a national structure to manage this investigation.

B. Supporting information

1. The police service in the United Kingdom has two main roles in relation to the Asian Tsunami Disaster: firstly, to assist the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in providing appropriate support to countries affected by the disaster; and secondly, to provide direct support to affected families and friends in the United Kingdom. The goals of all concerned are to put survivors and relatives in contact and to expedite the identification of victims.

2. Coordination is being provided by ACPO and the MPS.

3. UK police involvement in the coordination of this operation is entirely in support of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who lead Her Majesty’s Government’s response to the disaster. In terms of the UK police response the objectives can be usefully grouped into five interconnected themes:

• Forensic, Family Liaison, Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) teams, and repatriation in support of the role of HM Coroner.
• The provision of Central Casualty Bureau (CCB) to assist FCO in handling telephone enquiries from persons concerned about the UK nationals or residents who may have been involved in the Asian earthquake and linkage to FCO Consular Liaison.
• Facilitating the reception of deceased and casualties at all UK airports and other ports where flights from the affected region arrive.
• Ensuring effective liaison with the media via FCO and through the development of a proactive media strategy.
• Ensuring community impact across the UK is properly assessed and managed.

4. A command structure based on the Gold, Silver, Bronze model worked to the requirement of the FCO initially under Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations (Sir David Veness), who as Gold provided a strategic linkage with ACPO, MPS Management Board, Cabinet Office and Government Departments.

5. As events moved on, the command structure changed. Operation Bracknell is now led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates assuming the mantle of Gold, supported by various colleagues. Appendix 1.

MPS response

6. As at Friday 14 January 2005, there are approximately 415 MPS officers and police staff deployed in support of Operation Bracknell. Of these, there are around 80 officers deployed overseas. The demand on the MPS is being significantly reduced through the support of other UK Police services under the Police National Information and Coordination Centre (PNICC) structure. During the week commencing 17 January 2005, the operation will migrate to a national response based on the ACPO regions and including those within Scotland and Northern Ireland. There is a National Incident Room (NIR) based in the MPS at Hendon. This supports and co-ordinates all the work across the UK to assist Her Majesty’s Coroner based at Fulham.

7. Members should be aware that the focus of this operation in the next 3-4 months will largely be in South East Asia working to the Thai authorities to assist in the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) process. There may also be the possibility of future deployments to other areas affected by the disaster. Simultaneously, much work has been done and will continue in the UK with families of those bereaved or missing to ensure the reconciliation process and identification of victims are managed in the most sensitive and dignified way. The focus will then move towards establishing, to the satisfaction of HM Coroner and the FCO, that those missing, where no body has been recovered, are dead. Legal advice is being sought through the Home Office to shorten the very difficult time frames that currently exist around probate matters. It is anticipated that Operation Bracknell will run for approximately 12 months, although this is only an estimate at the present time.

National response

8. The high volume of calls received within the CCB and the similarly high number of enquiries generated resulted in the MPS moving rapidly to mutual aid assistance from other Forces. The PNICC have provided these resources as they are requested.

9. As stated above, PNICC is also co-ordinating all other national efforts in relation to supplying staff in support of this Operation.

National structure

10. Operation Bracknell will be moving to a national structure in the week commencing 17 January 2005. The preparatory work for this has been done by the Chief Constable of Dorset, Martin Baker. This has the full support of Chief Constables’ Council who were briefed on Wednesday 12 January 2005. The UK response will be run on ACPO Major Crime Linked Series principles with DAC Yates fulfilling the role of Officer in Overall Command (OIOC.) A briefing took place for all ACCs from the UK at New Scotland Yard on Saturday 15 January 2005. This is likely to be the largest major enquiry ever undertaken on a national basis.

International structure

11. This is being co-ordinated through the Interpol General Secretariat in Lyon. Ron Noble, the Secretary General at Interpol, is providing overt leadership and support for the international relief operation. The Metropolitan Police Service has agreed to second a senior officer to Lyon to set-up a Crisis Management Support Centre to co-ordinate all Interpol efforts. There will be significant advantages to the MPS in the future by having an officer in this position.

Review

12. An immediate and full review process under the leadership of an ACPO officer was instigated to examine each of the response functions providing a continuous internal review mechanism. The MPS Internal Consultancy Group has been asked to conduct a fast time review of sixteen identified areas. Early learning would indicate that the MPS will have to re-think Casualty Bureau arrangements to ensure they are fit to manage the massive loss of life that such disasters as this entail. There are associated IT and training gaps that will also need to be addressed.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The appointment of a Bronze Community has and will continue to ensure that there is an ongoing and effective assessment of community impact both within the MPS and at the national level. The focus is both on those directly affected by the Tsunami and within the broader communities.

There has been full engagement with the Independent Advisory Group who continue to provide advice and expertise at the Gold level, and with the MPA through an MPA lead member, Aneeta Prem.

Bronze Community engages with the Home Office Community Cohesion Unit.

The National Community Tension Team provides a UK-wide community impact assessment which is then managed at both national and local level.

D. Financial implications

Financial Management

A Senior Business manager has been identified to support Gold in ensuring that all costs related to Operation Bracknell are captured.

Cost recovery

A much fuller assessment of costs and financial impact on the MPS will be available nearer the Full Authority meeting. There are clearly very significant financial issues for the MPS and other Forces. The Deputy Commissioner has written to the Home Office and the Clerk to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office seeking assurances that our costs will be met. An update will be provided at the meeting.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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