Police Scotland is taking part in a multi-agency exercise in Edinburgh to test the response to a major incident.
The simulated exercise will take place from Monday 17 October to Thursday 20 October 2022.
It’s one of many pre-planned exercises that provides training and experience working with other agencies.
Exercises happen regularly at various levels with other emergency services and organisations. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the last exercise of a similar scale held in Scotland was October 2017.
This exercise will test the multi-agency response to a major incident involving hazardous materials.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams, head of Operational Support, said: “This is one of many pre-planned exercises and not in response to any specific threat.
“The public should rightly expect Police Scotland to practice and strengthen our response to a major incident alongside other organisations.
“We are part of a well-established multi-agency training programme that provides valuable training and learning.
“It’s important for exercises to be as realistic as possible however they are always planned proportionately in controlled settings and there will be limited disruption to people living nearby.”
There will be an increased presence of emergency services and military vehicles in Edinburgh during the exercise days.
The exercise is being organised by the Scottish Multi-Agency Resilience Training and Exercise Unit (SMARTEU). Other agencies involved in this particular exercise include NHS Lothian, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council.
