The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 requires Category 1 and 2 responders to:
• co-operate with other local responders to enhance co-ordination and efficiency and
• share information with other local responders to enhance co-ordination.
The principle mechanism for multi-agency co-operation at the local level is the Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Local Resilience Forum (LRF), based on the Devon and Cornwall Police Area of Responsibility. Co-operation and sharing of information is already extensively practised within the LRF area and this Information Sharing Protocol seeks to formalise the good working practice already in place.
The Protocol provides a framework to enable the exchange of information and to ensure clarity of understanding of the purpose of information transfer and process to be followed. The exchange of information is to enable responders to be prepared to meet their obligations under the Act, and the Partner Organisations will need to sign up formally and individually to the Protocol.
This Protocol is an agreement between the Signatories to share sensitive information for a specified purpose(s). The Protocol:
a) Sets out the purpose(s) for which information needs to be shared
b) Lists the organisations which may share information under terms
c) Sets up procedures for sharing information.
