Emergency response training centre opens

A new centre offering emergency response training to public and private sector workers has opened on the outskirts of York.

The Resilience Training Centre, part of the government's UK Resilience Academy, will teach courses on tackling incidents such as terror attacks, flooding and power cuts.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden, who opened the centre in Easingwold, said it aimed to give a "generational upgrade to crisis training".

He said: "It's really important we've got a constant process of training and preparedness so if something like that happens, there's a network of people around the country who know what to do."

An estimated 4,000 people per year are expected to travel to Yorkshire to take courses on subjects including crowd management and crisis communications.

McFadden said: "Coming on a course like this, from a local area, can really help all the different people get to know one another so that when something does happen, they know who to pick up the phone to and what that person's capability is.

"Those human relationships and that level of trust is very important when you're responding in an emergency situation."

He also announced the launch of software to identify the communities that could be worst affected by such incidents.

Developed by the National Situation Centre and the Office for National Statistics, the tool will use demographic data to help decision-makers target those most in need, such as areas with a high population of elderly people.

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