This checklist has been created in partnership with community safety partnerships across London as guidance to support those responding to an incident of serious violence.
Where has the critical incident notification come from - police including British Transport Police, fire brigade, children or adults social care, voluntary sector or community
Ensure all key stakeholders have been/are being informed
Ensure immediate response is in place
Scene management
Ensure the scene(s) identified are being managed
Ensure appropriate messages are being shared with partners and relevant communities
Ensure safety measures are in place
Incident categorisation
Does the incident require an Incident Management Meeting?
Is the incident a Serious Violence Incident (Definition below)
Ensure incident has been categorised appropriately
Who is leading the incident response
Has the appropriate lead been identified?
Have all partners been identified
Does the response need to be cross-borough
Hold critical incident/key partners meeting
Attendees, format and timing of meeting varies depending on incident categorisation
Develop and implement response plan
Develop plan and assign responsibilities
Put in place mediation, deploy patrols - consider outreach engagement work
Undertake appeals for witnesses
Brief CCTV control to support incident - monitor and review CCTV footage and ensure it's preservation and ensure it is supplied in a timely manner
Provide victim support/bereavement support as appropriate
Review progress and update plan as needed
Communication planning and implementation
Identify the lead agency for communications
Ensure clear, consistent, factual messaging about the incident, from all partners
Develop ongoing press/social media statement
Ensure phased communications plan is developed - with weekly updates etc
Agree key communications channel
Monitor social media
Health planning
Identify key health partners (hospital, GP and public health)
Discuss discharge plans
Consider victim's visitor needs
Community liaison
Liaise with community leaders
Hold community meeting/community hub
Visit local businesses, community organisations and faith organisations
Offer support services to those affected
Monitor tensions and call for support in prevention work
Manage memorials and tributes
Keep alert to signs of trauma amongst victims, family, wider community and staff
Relationship mapping
Appoint Family Liaison Officer or equivalent - if necessary
Identify friends and family
Identify and address safeguarding concerns
Consider implications relating to social care, housing, friendship groups
Education engagement
Alert schools of victims, perptrators, witnesses etc
Support schools with critical incident plan
Deploy therapeutic services to schools
Review and ongoing management
Evaluate impact of response
Develop plan for managing birthdays, anniversaries, court proceedings etc