Bronze – The tier of command and control within a single agency e.g. Local Authority (below gold level and silver level) at which the management of “hands-on” work is undertaken at the incident site.

Silver – The tactical tier of command and control within a single agency e.g. Police (below gold and above bronze level) at which the response to an emergency is managed.

Gold – The strategic level of command and control (above silver and bronze level) at which policy, strategy and the overall response framework are established and managed. Financial and reputational decisions are made at this level.

OCG – Operational Coordinating Group. A multi-agency group of bronze commanders from single agencies that meets to co-ordinate the “hands-on” response to an emergency.

TCG – Tactical Coordinating Group. A multi-agency group of silver commanders from single agencies that meets to determine, co-ordinate and deliver the tactical response to an emergency.

SCG – Strategic Coordinating Group. A multi-agency group of gold commanders from single agencies that can meet physically/virtually in response to an emergency.

CCA – Civil Contingencies Act (2004) which established a single framework for civil protection in the United Kingdom. Part 1 of the Act establishes a clear set of roles responsibilities for Local Responders; Part 2 of the Act establishes emergency powers.

Category 1 responder – Determined under the CCA as agencies likely to be at the core of the response to most emergencies. E.g. Police, Fire, Ambulance, Local Authority, NHS England, Public Health England, Environment Agency.

Category 2 responder – Determined under the CCA as agencies who are less likely to be involved in the multi-agency planning work, but will be heavily in incidents affecting their sectors. E.g. Utility companies, Highways England, Network Rail.

METHANE – Consist method of sharing incident information. 1. Major Emergency? 2. Exact Location 3. Type of incident 4. Hazards present 5. Access 6. Number of casualties 7. Emergency services

NYLRF – North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum. Bringing together all the category 1 and 2 responders within a police force area for the purpose of facilitating co-operation in fulfilment of their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act. NYLRF covers North Yorkshire and York.

RMCI – Response to Major & Critical Incidents. A NYLRF plan to promote a consistent multi-agency approach and shared situational awareness for response to an emergency. This is often seen as an email notification sent to all responding partners with consistent information about a major incident.

Resilience Direct – the UK’s secure web platform for planning, response and recovery.

JESIP – Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principals. Aimed to improve the way in which the three blue light services work together at major and complex incidents.

JDM – Joint decision model. Brings together the available information, reconcile objectives and make effective decisions for responding agencies.

HART – Hazardous Area Response Team. An NHS ambulance service providing medical care in hazardous environments e.g. collapsed buildings, water rescue and firearms incidents.

YAS – Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

EA – Environment Agency. Their role is to protect and enhance the environment. E.g. involved with flooding or environmental pollution.

PHE – Public Health England. They protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequalities. E.g. involved with disease outbreaks or environmental pollution.