The terrible aftermath of the shootings in Liege on 13th December are a reminder that all local authorities must have plans in place to deal with the unimaginable.
The press conference (above) held by the authorities on the 13th outlines the scale of the shocking minutes of terror, injury and death for local people.
The Straits Times in Singapore devotes a page this morning to a decade of shootings across Europe, including the 2010 attacks in Cumbria, North West England in which 12 people were shot dead, and the deaths of 69 young people on the island of Utoya, Noway in July. The Straits Times calls the Liege shootings a "chilling addition to a long list of similar attacks that have blighted Europe over the last 10 years". The paper notes the Liege shootings come alongside the shooting of two Sengalese men in Florence, Italy by a far-right author, who then killed himself.
The page provides ample evidence as to why every local authority must have a major incident crisis plan. Any such plan must include potential arrangements for a press conference. It's where things sometimes go wrong.
A press conference is an efficient and fair way to distribute information in an emergency. It will establish your organisation as the authoritative source of information about the incident. It is a way of dispelling rumour with facts. It also enables you to publicly show care and compassion.
There are some useful things to check as part of your plan.
1. Identify a suitable location for a press conference and an alternative should that location not be available. It's a good idea to consult local TV colleagues who will be glad to help you with advice as to the suitability of a location for TV positions and links. Remember today most 24 hour news channels will carry press conferences "live" and will not thank you for holding them in a location which makes this difficult. The venue needs to be co-operative enough to make itself available at very short notice, so it is better, but not essential, if it is a public building.
2. Your venue must be suitable in size and dignity to host a press conference which may be to announce large numbers of deaths. Think about whether there can be a raised platform, and a raised platform at the back for TV cameras, and whether you can have a backdrop (in London the Metropolitan Police do this very well). There is no time to do this on the day.
3. Identify the personnel you would need - types and numbers of people - and don't forget you will need security to ensure only authorised media are admitted - be careful that there may be people who wish to disrupt the event. You will need staff to record the names of those attending, as you may wish to contact them afterwards.
4. Work out how you will advise the media that there is to be a press conference. Be careful not to commit too far in advance as you will lose credibility if a press conference is trailed on TV and doesn't happen. The media are entitled though to adequate notice to make technical preparations. It's helpful to tell media, for example, that while you don't know the exact time of a press conference yet, if there is one it will be in "x" building. Then they can begin logistical preparations. But be careful not to promise a press conference which may not happen.
5. Have "toblerones" (name cards for tables) ready to put participants names on them on the press conference table in your crisis tool box. Most media present will not be familiar with the participants and it helps TV viewers, too.
7. Training - it's very important that as part of crisis training, you include training in handling a press conference. Mock press conferences are easy to stage and senior officials should be mandated to attend this type of training at least once a year.
These arrangements will get you off to a good start in the event of an emergency and will help you avoid some basic pitfalls - like holding press conferences on a pavement, which should never happen.
(Posted from Singapore)
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