The Operational Policy & Planning team ensure that the necessary operational procedures and supporting information, including pre-planning measures, are in place to enable our front line operational crews to respond to incidents safely and efficiently.  At the same time, they also ensure that the appropriate operational intelligence information is available within the command and control room.

This function is also responsible for emergency planning and provide the link with all partner agencies and other Services within the multi agency emergency planning contex, ensuring that we comply with all our responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

Staff within the function also manage and monitor the duty system for flexible duty command managers which ensures that sufficient middle, senior and principal managers are available at all times to support service personnel, and where appropriate, available to respond to operational incidents.

The Research & Development stream ensures that our operational personnel are provided with appropriate personal protective equipment and operational equipment, including the technical information and period testing schedule relating to the equipment.
 
New Dimensions and, in particular, our Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) and Mass Decontamination capability is the responsibility of this function, who provide our link to other Fire & Rescue Services and multi agency partners.

The overall responsibility for the management of these specialist services lies with this function, and the day to day responsibility  is devolved to our Stations where the equipment is located.

The team also ensure the provision of water for fire fighting purposes and, as a result, manage the legislative requirements and formal agreements with the statutory water undertakers.