International Journal of Emergency Services

Meet Editor Dr Paresh Wankhade in this introductory video

Recent IJES Award Winners

Editorial Objectives

The International Journal of Emergency Services (IJES) provides a platform for the development of scholarship in the management of all emergency services both universal services such as Fire and Rescue, Police, and Ambulance services as well as more specialised services such as the Coastguard, Air-Sea or Mountain Rescue.
IJES publishes up-to-date and original research contributions for the benefit of scholars, policy makers and practitioners, including those operating in local regional and central government and across international boundaries. The central theme is the continuing need to improve both efficiency and effectiveness in an era of scarce resources and rising public expectations of improved service delivery and risk reduction. IJES is interested in the functioning of the emergency services, in the planning, prevention and recovery stages of emergencies and disasters, and in responses and reactions to emergencies.

In view of the nature of emergency services, IJES encourages contributions from the social sciences particularly psychology, economists, sociologists, youth studies, criminologists, public health and political scientists; as well as from scholars interested in the management of these services. The editors adopt a very broad view of what constitutes “management” and welcome articles dealing with the theory and practise of strategic and operational management of emergency services and the related professional and policy aspects. Articles drawing comparisons between two or more jurisdictions and those offering theoretical cross-jurisdictional perspectives will be particularly welcome.

Editorial Criteria

IJES publishes articles by academics, students and practitioners covering original thought, research, review and analysis. Research papers, technical papers, conceptual papers, viewpoints, literature and general reviews are all encouraged. A Practitioner Interface and book reviews have been specifically designed to foster interaction between the practitioner and academic communities and in so doing encourage critical engagement with new ideas and practise.

Scope/Coverage

The coverage of the journal includes, but is not limited to:

Theoretical and methodological foundations of emergency response services
Accountability and governance of emergency services
Staff functioning within, and leadership, of emergency services.
Organisational and structural issues in the running of emergency services
Measurement management and monitoring of the performance of emergency services
Development and management of intelligence, risk assessment, and risk modelling, public perception of risk and the impact of the media on emergency planning and emergency services
Preparation, planning and contingencies in the responses to emergencies
The contribution that emergency services make to wider social, economic and environmental concerns
Training, development and continuous professional development of operational and non-operational staff
The interrelationship between emergency services and critical services in health, criminal justice and local service delivery
The interrelationship between emergency services and social policy such as community engagement, the impact of volunteerism and the building of social capital
The effectiveness efficiency or value of international responses to emergencies
Community preparedness for and rehabilitation from major emergencies, long term disaster or long lead time disasters such as drought
Leadership domains in international responses across multiple nations and agencies
Cultural variances of emergency management in relation to global responses

Key Benefits

IJES is the only journal which deals with issues that are common to all of the emergency services rather than focussing on particular service issues
IJES is the only journal to present a holistic approach with an international perspective on the preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation stages of multiple emergencies and multiple disciplines impacted upon by emergencies.

What does the field of research think of IJES?

The International Journal of Emergency Services (IJES) is much needed. The academic literature on emergency services is currently marked by its exclusive nature. The journal I edit focuses on fire leadership and management. Several other fire-related refereed journals are engineering based; they are technical and written for specialists. The same holds true for the one-half dozen or so emergency management journals; they are narrow in scope and intended for a particular audience. Similarly, criminal justice and emergency medical journals were created to serve specific constituencies. In contrast, IJES allows for a more inclusive understanding of emergency services management, regardless of discipline. Moreover, the journal is international in scope, thus placing emergency services administration within its appropriate global context. It is this inclusiveness and international perspective that will make this journal unique, vital, and widely read.
Dr. Robert E. England, Editor, International Fire Service Journal of Leadership and Management, Oklahoma State University, USA