How a Major Incident is Declared

There is no statutory basis for how a major incident is declared on the Isle of Man.

Chief Minister Alf Cannan has set out the way such an incident is declared after a question from Chris Thomas, MHK for Douglas Central.

Mr. Cannan stated that a major incident is defined as “an event or situation with a range of serious consequences which requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder agency”.

Such incidents, which go beyond “business-as-usual operations,” may involve “serious harm, damage, disruption or risk to human life or welfare, essential services, the environment or national security.” 

The decision to declare a major incident is “a judgement made in a specific local and operational context,”with no universal thresholds.

Command

Once declared, additional resources and command structures are activated.

The Chief Constable typically chairs the Strategic Coordinating Group, while the Council of Ministers’ 2023 Direction guides departmental responses.

Mr Cannan emphasised the island’s “best practice, bottom-up approach,” with higher tiers of emergency management engaged as needed.

Politicians play a strategic role, with Mr. Cannan stating: “In the event of a major incident, the role of politicians, as set out in the Major Incident Response Plan, is to provide strategic direction, act as the public face of the response, and give reassurance to the public.

“This includes media engagement, ensuring public confidence, and supporting multi-agency coordination whilst leaving operational direction to service leaders.”