Over the past two weeks, nearly 100 personnel from Gibraltar’s emergency services, military, and a wide range of responding organisations, agencies, and departments have taken part in a comprehensive series of multi-agency training events. The programme culminated in a scenario-based tabletop exercise (TTX) designed to test Gibraltar’s readiness to respond to a Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA).

The training was organised and delivered by the Office of Civil Contingencies and involved all three levels of command (Strategic, Tactical, and Operational). The exercise scenario simulated the rapid deployment of responders to neutralise armed threats, deliver emergency medical care, and evacuate casualties and survivors. As the situation escalated to Threat Level CRITICAL, participants implemented enhanced counter-terrorism response measures, including increased land and maritime patrols and the armed protection of key sites across Gibraltar.

The training courses and MTA TTX has drawn delegates from across all organisations including: Royal Gibraltar Police, Gibraltar Fire & Rescue Service, Airport Fire & Rescue Service, Gibraltar Health Authority, Gibraltar Ambulance Service, HM Customs, Borders & Coastguard Agency, Gibraltar Port Authority, Department of the Environment, Environmental Agency, St John Ambulance, Department of Personnel & Development, Department of Education, No. 6 Press Office, Gibraltar International Airport, National Air Traffic Services (NATS), Headquarters British Forces Gibraltar, Gibraltar Defence Police, Royal Gibraltar Regiment, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

The two-week programme began with the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP) Multi-Agency Interoperability Course, which is delivered three times a year by the Office of Civil Contingencies. The course brought together commanders from all three levels and emergency control room operators to strengthen joint working under the JESIP framework thereby enabling police, fire, ambulance, and other responders to coordinate effectively during incidents. The course emphasised shared situational awareness, effective communication, and structured decision-making with the aim of saving lives and reducing harm.

The JESIP course was overseen by Carl Daniels MBE, who until last year served as the UK’s Deputy Senior Responsible Officer for JESIP. During his 12-year tenure, Mr Daniels played a key role in shaping UK doctrine and embedding lessons identified from major incidents, including the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and the London Bridge/Borough Market attacks.

Following the JESIP course, Carl Daniels delivered further specialist training in:

• Medical Incident Command and Triage (MICAT)
• Decision Logging
• Defensible Decision-Making.

Medical Incident Command and Triage (MICAT). The three-day course covered command and control principles, JESIP protocols, Ten-Second Triage, and the Major Incident Triage Tool (MITT). The course concluded with a tabletop exercise preparing medical professionals for major incidents, including mass-casualty events.

Decision Loggists Course. This course provided participants with the skills to accurately record key decisions during emergencies. Decision logs are essential for post-incident inquiries, accountability, and organisational learning. Training included legal context, best-practice models, and practical exercises.

Defensible Decision-Making Course. Focusing on the JESIP Joint Decision Model, this course enhanced participants’ ability to make decisions that are proportionate, legitimate, authorised, necessary, and ethical. All of these being vital principles for accountable emergency response leadership.

Civil Contingencies Coordinator, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Ivor Lopez MBE, explained: “These training events form part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that personnel across all the emergency services and other government departments and agencies are fully prepared to respond to any event or major incident. Through continuous training and capability development, we strengthen Gibraltar’s overall resilience and readiness to protect our community. This is especially important in today’s world that continues to see an increasing and ever-changing threat landscape.”

Reflecting on the training, Carl Daniels MBE, said: “Working alongside HM Government of Gibraltar’s Civil Contingencies team to deliver focused, high-quality training is always a privilege. Over the past two weeks, emergency and essential service personnel have received instruction in defensible decision-making, decision logging, and medical incident command and triage. Each course reflects current best practice and strengthens Gibraltar’s capacity to respond effectively to emergencies.”

Minister for Civil Contingencies, the Hon. Leslie Bruzon MP, added: “Maintaining readiness for any potential scenario remains essential. Last week’s exercise and associated training highlighted the complex and demanding nature of responding to incidents of this kind. I would like to express my gratitude to the Civil Contingencies Coordinator, Ivor Lopez and Senior Civil Contingencies Officer, Ernest Danino for their continued dedication to planning and preparedness, which strengthens Gibraltar’s multi-agency response capability. I also extend my sincere thanks to Carl Daniels for his ongoing commitment to assist in the embedding of JESIP principles at the heart of Gibraltar’s emergency preparedness.”