UK police discuss pandemic planning

On Friday the 4th September the Police North West Region Business Continuity Managers Group held a UK Police Influenza Pandemic Workshop, at Merseyside Police HQ. The event was organised and facilitated by the force Business Continuity Coordinator James McAlister who also recently won the national award of ‘Public Sector Continuity Manager of the Year 2009’.

The event’s aim was to discuss current pandemic flu issues and exchange good practice. Seventy business continuity and personnel managers representing over thirty forces from around the UK attended the workshop.

The workshop format included in-depth presentations and group work sessions. The attendee’s were given the opportunity to discuss a wide range of influenza related business continuity issues including policies, staff welfare and people resilience.

The primary speaker for the day was Dr. Robert Kahn a leading pandemic flu academic who lectures extensively on pandemic issues. Dr. Kahn gave his educated opinion of the probable effects of the current ‘swine flu’ outbreak over the next twelve-month period. He stated that ‘...historically all previous pandemic viruses have mutated which makes them more virulent’. Dr. Kahn also issued a stark warning for forces throughout the UK that currently do not have pandemic flu plans for them to…’Plan now or panic later’.

Participants’ feedback for the day indicated that it was a very worthwhile event and suggested that the concept of national workshops should continue. Future discuss topics could include emergency contingency premises and supply chain resilience.

The event was supported by the force Operations Manager Chief Superintendent John Martin and ACC Colin Matthews the force Influenza Pandemic Lead who opened and closed the workshop respectively.

•Date: 29th Sept 2009• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: Pandemic planning UK
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