The Avon and Somerset LRF partners communicate across a vast number of organisations both within Category 1 and 2 Responders and beyond in every day business. In addition, Category 1 Responders have a duty to warn and inform the public which must be maintained even during times of communication disruptions.

Our day to day communications relies predominantly on landline, mobile phones, email and the internet. When these systems are compromised, particularly during a major incident and our ability to communicate is reduced we need to understand what methods of communication are available to us, what the message is, how it can be delivered and what the intended outcome is.

Although this document is about methods of electronic or systems communications it should also consider as a last resort face to face communications or even use of the postal system for non urgent communications.

In an emergency, upward communications to Region and Central teams will be from the LRF’s Strategic Co-ordination Group through the ROC (or direct where needed) to Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR). This is generally managed by several government supported initiatives.

The Telecommunications Plan shows the various forms of communications available to each of our LRF Partners and identifies any current gaps. It highlights the need for individual organisations to develop robust diverse communications arrangement considering particularly the vulnerability of landline and mobile networks to long time loss of power.

It should be recognised that some solutions to identified gaps may be cost prohibited or technically not feasible for any one or more agencies to rectify. Where such an identified gap cannot be resolved it should be referred to the LRF Executive Group for acknowledgement and management of the risk. In terms of communications, the effectiveness of the network overall will be dependent on the weakest link in the chain.

Command and Control in an emergency is covered by the LRF Major Incident Response Guide augmented by a range of plans for specific types of emergency. This includes the need for specialist advice cells (depending on the emergency) and where communications are threatened the SCG will convene a technical cell to identify problems, propose solutions, provide situation reports on comms issues, and seek help from external sources through the Gold Commander where appropriate.

The content of the plan includes specific information regarding;

• List of Communication methods
• Verbal Communications – Restricted/Unrestricted
• Non-Verbal Communications
• Government Initiatives
• Current LRF capabilities
• Current LRF communication providers
• Threats to communications
• Gap analysis and solutions
• Contacts
• Training and Exercising