Collaborative InCC boosts capability
to respond to major incidents
Supporting the 2013 Commissioner's Operational Priorities on Major Incidents and Terrorism and Strategic Direction 2, Operations Wing ran the 8th Incident Command Course (InCC) between February 25 and March 1. The InCC aims at enhancing the capability of senior officers to command all types of major incidents, including both terrorist and non-terrorist incidents.
Attending the 8th InCC were 22 officers at the ranks from Superintendent to Chief Superintendent as well as representatives from government departments that are members of the Counter Terrorism Emergency Coordination Team, who have a role to play to deal with both terrorist and non-terrorist incidents.
The course was run through briefings, presentations and discussions as well as visits to key command facilities such as the Headquarters Command and Control Centre, the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre operated by Security Bureau, and the Emergency Transport Coordination Centre operated by Transport Department. In addition, a series of tabletop exercise reinforced learning experience throughout the course, using on terrorist and non-terrorist incident scenarios. The course culminated with a large-scale scenario in a tabletop exercise, with the participants playing command roles in a variety of incidents.
In addition to internal guest speakers from CT specialised and related units within the Force, external guest speakers also shared their knowledge and experience with the participants. These speakers included representatives from Security Bureau, Hospital Authority, Transport Department and Fire Services Department.
The participants also benefited from a talk given by Mr Jay Walder, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC), who offered them an insight into response to major and terrorist incidents from MTRC's perspectives, and shared his experience and knowledge gained from overseas.
The external speakers' participation in the InCC underlines the Force's close co-operation with other stakeholders in tackling terrorist incidents.
Assistant Commissioner Steve Gollschewski of the Queensland Police Service was also a guest speaker at the InCC. Mr Gollschewski led the operational response to the major flooding across the southern part of Queensland in 2011. This incident, which resulted in the deaths of 24 people and attracted international media attention, led to the largest joint operation by the Police and the Australian Defence Force in Australia's history.
Mr Gollschewski, in addition to addressing InCC participants and sharing his extensive operational command and control experience, also delivered a Management Development Programme presentation capability on the policing challenges in Queensland, including preparation for hosting the G20 Summit in 2014. He also attended the InCC final exercise as an observer.
After the course, a course participant, Police Tactical Unit Deputy Commandant Ip Chi-keung commended: "While being intensive and challenging, the 8th InCC is also extremely rewarding and definitely has achieved its aim to enhance participants' knowledge and capability to command all types of major incidents."
Assistant commissioner (operations) Cheung Tak- keung said that the feedback from course participants was extremely positive, reflecting the great deal of thought and hard work that had gone into planning and running the course. He thanked the guest speakers, officers, members of the facilitation team and those working behind the scenes making logistical and support arrangements, for their contribution to the success of the 8th InCC.
Mr Gollschewski shares his experince of dealing with
major incidents 
Course
members visit major command facilities