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NATURAL HAZARDS AND PUBLIC SAFETY 19
national risk report. It is interesting to note that of the eleven most threatening
scenarios in the latest report, five classify as natural hazards. We expect that the
national risk analysis will be actively implemented and that it will contribute to the
recognition and prevention of such events. The most recent events have been well
documented through reports and evaluations. It is of the utmost importance that
experience from earlier events is actively utilised for the prevention and mitigation
of future risks.
Operational organisations
Society must be well prepared and experienced in responding to hazards and risks
when exposed to the impact of powerful natural processes. It is necessary to have
carried out response drills, and to have tested equipment, infrastructure,
communication and organisation, beforehand. The Ministry of Justice and Public
Security has implemented a number of actions to enhance preparedness for coping
with natural hazard events.
The Police
On 6
th
March 2015, the Government presented a proposal for the re-organisation of
the police, the Local Police Reform. Several substantial requests are included, one
of which is requirements on response time to extraordinary events where the saving
of life is at stake. This has already been implemented within today's police structure.
The Government aims at a coverage of two police staff per 1000 inhabitants by 2020,
which represents a substantial improvement in police capacity. This in turn will
influence expectations of the preparedness of the police.
Fire protection and rescue
For more robust and competent units with experience from demanding events, the
Government finds that there is a need for fewer but larger units in the fields of fire
protection and rescue. The Government’s Local Police Reform proposal will
therefore, among others, investigate and plan for establishing fire protection and
rescue units that will operate within the same boundaries as the future police districts.
Civil Defence
The Civil Defence system provides an important additional capacity in a crisis
situation. Although the Civil Defence is perceived by many as an old-fashioned unit
designed only to resist a potential military invasion, this is quite wrong. Today's Civil
Defence system is a modern and forward-looking resource providing critical
capacity in supporting the emergency services, not least in fire protection and rescue
operations at all scales. Civil Defence units took part in almost 300 emergencies in
2014. This organisation experiences an escalating demand for its resources, and the
Government continues to prioritise financial support of the Civil Defence units. Six
priority fields have been selected for the Civil Defence: electric power supply,
emergency accommodation such as tents, lighting sources, pumping capacity,