Police Scotland launch coronavirus major incident response with control centre based in Midlothian

Officers will operate virtually from the control room at Bilston Glen.

Police Scotland have set up a coronavirus control centre on the outskirts of Edinburgh to deal with the ongoing pandemic crisis.

A major incident is defined as an event or situation with a range of serious consequences which requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder.

The centre will be based in a control room at Bilston Glen, Midlothian, but officers will be expected to operate remotely.

The Bilston Glen control room and service centre

The so-called multi-agency coordination centre will allow other emergency services, the NHS and local authorities to respond to the impact of coronavirus in one place.

Officers added that the Scottish Resilience Partnership will coordinate the response to the “major incident”. It is understood the decision to declare a major incident was taken yesterday (March 19).

Deputy chief constable Malcolm Graham said: “We have been planning and preparing for this outbreak for some time and standing up the Multi-Agency Coordination Centre will help to coordinate the response to issues arising from the impact of coronavirus.

“I have tasked Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams with chairing Strategic Coordination Group meetings on behalf of partners as we move forward with our response to coronavirus.

“These are exceptional circumstances and I am confident that the partnership will continue to work together successfully, as it has done on numerous occasions previously.

“Working alongside our partners, we are ready and able to respond to ensure the safety of the public during these unprecedented times.”

Police Scotland set up a similar control centre to tackle the impact of Brexit in October last year.Major incidents often covers incidents such as fires and floods, but can be extended to incidents which could lead to civil unrest and can be declared by several emergency responders.

They are also expected to involve the potential of serious harm, damage, disruption or risk to human life or welfare, essential services, the environment or national security.