Part 2

Victims of major incidents

Meaning of “major incident” etc

Meaning of “major incident” etc
34
1
This Part concerns advocates for victims of major incidents.
2
In this Part, “major incident” means an incident that—
a
occurs in England or Wales after this section comes into force,
b
causes the death of, or serious harm to, a significant number of individuals, and
c
is declared in writing by the Secretary of State to be a major incident for the purposes of this Part.
3
Before declaring an incident that occurs in Wales to be a major incident, the Secretary of State must consult the Welsh Ministers.
4
For the purposes of this Part, “harm” includes physical, mental or emotional harm.
5
In this Part, “victims”, in relation to a major incident, means—
a
individuals who have suffered harm as a direct result of the incident (whether or not that harm is serious harm), and
b
close family members or close friends of individuals who have died or suffered serious harm as a direct result of the incident.
6
In this Part, “advocate” means—
a
the standing advocate appointed under section 35(1);
b
an individual appointed as an advocate in respect of a major incident under section 36(1).
7
But a reference in this Part to an advocate appointed in respect of a major incident includes the standing advocate only if the standing advocate has been appointed in respect of that incident under section 36(1).