Suffolk Resilience Forum

The Suffolk Resilience Forum develops plans to deal with high and very high risks as identified on the Suffolk Community Risk Register.

The suite of plans cover generic plans which detail how we respond as a multi-agency group to any incident in Suffolk. They are:

• Site specific plans (these are normally covered by separate legislation requiring that we plan for incidents)
• Hazard specific plans (which are assessed as High or Very High on the Suffolk Community Risk Register or are publicly sensitive)
• Supporting plans which cover capabilities that could be employed as a result of any incident occurring

Most plans are publicly available to download below. Some plans are redacted under the Data Protection Act and are not publicly available due to their sensitive nature.

Generic plans

• Generic Emergency Response Plan (PDF, 2MB)
• Generic Recovery Plan (PDF, 685KB)

Site specific plans

• SRF Radiation Response Plan (PDF, 4.1MB)
• Calor Gas, Saxham, External Emergency Plan (PDF, 933KB)
• PPG Industries Ltd, Stowmarket, External Emergency Plan (PDF, 989KB)
• International Flavours and Fragrances, Haverhill, External Emergency Plan (PDF, 814KB)
• TREATT, Bury St Edmunds, External Emergency Plan (PDF, 828KB)
• TREATT, Skyliner, External Emergency Plan (PDF)

Hazard specific plans

• Pandemic Influenza Response Framework (PDF, 860KB)
• Severe Weather Plan (PDF, 465KB)
• Major Accidents Hazard Pipelines Plan (PDF)
• Flood Plan (PDF, 1.6MB)
• Animal Disease Response Plan (PDF, 411KB)
• Marine Pollution Plan (PDF, 2.9MB)

Supporting plans

• Communications Plan (PDF, 341KB)
• Mass Fatalities Plan (PDF)
• Vulnerable People Data Sharing Protocol (PDF, 180KB)
• Guide to Evacuation and Shelter (PDF, 438KB)

Download the Suffolk Community Risk Register (pdf, 100KB) or see below.

A National Risk Register provides an updated government assessment of the likelihood and potential impact of a range of different civil emergency risks (including naturally and accidentally occurring hazards and malicious threats) that may directly affect the UK over the next 5 years. It also signposts advice and guidance on what members of the public can do to prepare for these events.

What is the Suffolk Community Risk Register?

It is a document that shows which risks have been identified to affect Suffolk including the assessment of each risks impact and likelihood. The risks are presented in a matrix that allocates a risk rating according to government guidelines, it is a living document as the Suffolk Resilience Forum members review and update the risks in accordance with the National Risk Assessments (document is not publicly available) produced biennially by the government.

The production of this document fulfils a legal obligation under the Civil Contingencies Act, 2004.

Further information on risk and risk assessment can be found in Emergency Preparedness Chapter 4, Local Responder Risk Assessment Duty from GOV.UK.

What is the Community Risk Register for?

The purpose of the Register is to:

• Ensure that local responders have an accurate understanding of the risks they face and to provide a sound foundation for planning
• Provide a rational basis for prioritising objectives, work programmes and allocation of resources
• Enable local responders to assess the adequacy of their plans and identify any gaps
• Facilitate joined up planning, based on consistent planning assumptions
• Provide an accessible overview of emergency planning for the public and officials
• Inform and reflect on national and regional risk assessments that support emergency planning and capability development at those levels

Suffolk Community Risk Register – Risk Matrix (last updated 5 October 2018)

The risk rating is devised from the impact of an incident resulting from one of the hazards and the likelihood of an incident occurring. Further information on the impact and likelihood scores is given after the table of risks below.

Multiagency plans have been developed for these risks as they are classed as some of the highest risks facing the East Coast on the National Risk Register.

The Risk Assessment process conducted in Suffolk did not place these risks at the same level that they are accorded nationally but they remain credible risks.

Risks pertinent to Suffolk but where no local risk assessment is required

The following risks are detailed in the Local Risk Assessment Guidance.

Whilst some of these are pertinent to Suffolk there is no local mitigation or planning that can be undertaken by the Suffolk Resilience Forum and therefore local risk assessments have not been completed.

The risk matrix above contains the risks that are most pertinent to Suffolk using the National assessments. Should hazards of this nature occur response will be implemented under national or generic arrangements (see SRF Generic Response and Recovery plan).

The Suffolk JEPU is a Local Authority partnership that supports the delivery of civil preparedness and business continuity services within 5 local authorities.

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 requires local authorities to provide the following services:

• Assess Suffolk risks and provide input to the Suffolk Community Risk Register.
• Develop Suffolk local authorities Emergency Plans.
• Develop Suffolk local authorities Business Continuity Management arrangements
• Develop arrangements to enable Civil Preparedness information to be available for public use.
• Maintain system for warning, informing and advising public in the event of an emergency.
• Share information with other Suffolk responders.
• Co-operate with other Suffolk responders to enhance co-operation and efficiency.

Additionally, local authorities are required to provide Business Continuity Management advice to Suffolk businesses and voluntary organisations.

The Suffolk JEPU staff are based both in the districts and boroughs, and centrally with the County Council where they provide the subject matter expertise, planning, training and advice to officers and councillors to facilitate civil preparedness capability within each council. Joint governance arrangements ensure that close ties are established with senior officers and elected members to allow joint direction setting and subsequent management of service delivery.

The JEPU also provides the local authority interface with the wider Suffolk Resilience Forum (SRF), the mechanism by which county multi-agency responders can co-operate with each other in preparing for and responding to emergencies within Suffolk.

Contact the Joint Emergency Planning Unit

Call 01473 265321 or email us at emergency.planning@suffolk.gov.uk.