Policy development and design for fire and emergency management

Fire and emergency managers have generally been more concerned with undertaking their immediate, vital mission than longer term, strategic policy development. This paper draws on a recent book by the authors to suggest a process for developing and implementing robust policy for fire and emergency management. Different approaches to policy development are discussed. The case is made that there are distinct types of policy problems in fire and emergency management, each requiring distinct approaches. The need for thought on policy implementation style, the advantages of multiple problem framing and the challenge of policy instrument choice are set out.