Civil/Homeland Security
This section provides an introduction to websites addressing 'Civil Security' - counter terrorism, emergency planning and community cohesion.
Not all of these subjects have been seen as traditionally areas of concern for crime and disorder partnerships and community safety teams. Civil security is allied to community engagement and in many ways this provides the fourth corner of the security block.
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The events of 9/11 in the US and 7/7 in the UK, brought the issues together and placed them within the sphere of interest of those concerned with the civil aspects of public protection and community cohesion as well as those having a more direct concern with the prevention of terrorism through military and policing activities.
Since 7/7 UK emergency services agencies have worked closer together both in both response capacity building and incident training. As an example the London Emergency Services Liaison Panel's Major incident Procedure Manual provides a good practice example of the type as well as illustrating how major incidents are being dealt with in the London metropolis.
Counter Terrorism
'Counter Terrorism' has sat uneasily within community safety. Most often seen as outside the civil ambit of general crime and disorder reduction, its focus tends to be viewed from a militaristic and interventionist perspective (which unarguably is an important component of the area) it is only seen as genuinely within the community safety spectrum of activity when it is viewed as an essential part of civil or homeland security - as an important function of the police services and surveillance services (such as CCTV) but also a facet of civil security work which will also include emergency planning, community cohesion and community engagement.
Counter terrorism rarely appeared in CSPs strategies prior to the incidents of July 2005 and even today it is quite rare for this to be identified within community safety partnership plans as either an issue within a more general 'civil security' topic or an issue in its own right. A few of London CSPs have incorporated the work into their list of priorities but elsewhere, though this is a policing priority, it seems 'difficult' for CDRP's to find a place for this area of work within their action programmes.
In principle, this area of work has now become a key priority which CSPs will find hard to ignore
and should be seen as a key component of civil security - along with
community cohesion and emergency planning and as such central to CSPs
activities. The actual
contribution that the Partnership will make to this area of work will
vary and be dependent on the nature and extent of the terrorism or needs
for developed programmes of community cohesion in the Partnership's
area.
The Home Office is the UK government department responsible for keeping the UK safe from the threat posed by terrorism.
Emergency Planning
‘An approach to preventing and managing emergencies that entails six key activities – anticipation, assessment, prevention, response, and recovery. Integrated Emergency Management (IEM) is geared to the idea of building greater overall resilience in the face of a broad range of disruptive challenges. It requires a coherent multi-agency effort’ (Emergency Response and Recovery ).
What is an emergency?
An event or situation that threatens serious damage to:
- Human welfare
- The environment
- Security (effectively war or terrorism)
According to 'Emergency Response and Recovery', in order to constitute an emergency, an event or situation must additionally require the implementation of special arrangements by one or more Category 1 responders - police, fire and ambulance service and local authorities (see below).
How is a major incident co-ordinated?
Multi agency co-operation is requires during a major incident; this is undertaken by the Local Resilience Forum, or its local equivalent (who cover the designated local the geographical area) ensures this.
The Forum is made up of leading bodies that have specific duties as determined by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 . They constitute the senior management group who are responsible for undertaking preparations for, and response to, major incidents and emergencies throughout the geographical area covered.
What are Emergency Plans?
Emergency plans are intended to: prepare for unusual circumstances; ensure delivery of pre-planned responses; formulate an easy to use co-ordination ‘check list’; systematically control the actions of others; protect oneself and organisation(s); fullfil statutory duites; create a reference document which can be automatically brought into use under exceptional and pressurised circumstances.
A plan is a written record of agreed future actions intended to be taken to prevent an emergency, or to respond to a disaster or emergency.
Contents of a typical plan: risk and consequence assessment: alerting and mobilising procedures; resources required; roles and responsibilities of responding organisations and personnel; Incident management structures and processes; communication protocols and cotnacts ; strategies, tactics and operational responses; public Information templates and procedures
What is the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (CCA 2004)
The
CCA 2004 repealed the Civil Defence Act 1948 and created a new
operational concept of an "emergency". The term includes events which
would have engaged the previous civil defence legislation (war or attack
by a foreign power), and but has also included terrorism, and “events
which threaten serious damage to human welfare in a place in the United
Kingdom or to the environment of a place in the United Kingdom”.
The
Act imposed a series of duties on local authorities, in addition to
those imposed on the emergency services ( police, fire, health
services and ambulance services). The Act requires these Category 1
responders to offer rapid response to emergencies, plan for avoidance of
risk and area wide business continuity and co-ordinate others to
effectively respond (utilities etc) and to maintain arrangements to
warn, inform and advise members of the public in the event of an
emergency.
The CCA’s Regulations 2005 further describes the
duties imposed such as Risk Assessments and maintainance of a Risk
Register, Planning and Response, Co-operation (local and pan-London),
Publication of Plans (including: warn and inform), Training and
Exercising, Advice and Assistance to Business and Voluntary
Organisations and Sharing of Information. Two of the key elements are
the Risk Assessments and Advice to Businesses, or Business Continuity
Management (BCM), which relates to both the activities of local
authorities and those of the local business community and require
constant reviewing and updating to reduce, control and mitigate the
affects of an emergency.
Category 1 and 2 Responders
Category 1 Responders?
- Emergency Services - Police (including County Services and British Transport Police); Fire Brigade; Ambulance Service
- Local Authorities - Unitary Auhtorities: County Authorities: District Authorities
- Government agencies - Environment Agency
- Health Bodies - Primary Care Trusts: Health Protection Agencies: NHS Acute Trusts (hospitals); NHS Foundation Trusts
- Utilities: Electricity; Gas: Water and sewerage; Public communications providers (landlines and mobiles)
- Transport: Network Rail; Train Operating Companies (passenger and freight); Airports; Highways Agency
- Government: Health and Safety Executive
- Health Sector: Strategic Health Authority
What is the role of CDRP's in Emergency Planning?
The CSPs statutory partners and their co-ordination role and statutory duties for crime and disorder reduction have obvious synergies with Emergency Planning and yet the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the Police and Justice Act 2006, or relevant practice guidance, does not recognise this.
The core partners (police and police authorities, local authorities, fire service and health services) of the CSP will, under different legislation, play a major role - as First Responders - in civil emergencies. We would suggest it is logical that the multi agency strategic, tactical and operational co-ordination of both areas fit together and quite logically should and can be part of the same local planning structures.
In many areas the operation of CSPs and that of Emergency Planning Management Boards are separate - with community safety plans and emergency plans not linked or even referenced and so we can have the bizarre situation where the same resources are use (say CCTV for crime and disorder reduction and for an emergency situation) by different operational structures for different purposes without the knowledge or support (which clearly is important for prioritisation of use purposes) of the other.
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Civil Security (General) Links
The website of the London Resilience Partnership. The Partnership works to ensure London is ready to cope with any incident that might occur -whether it's natural, accidental or malicious.
Counter Terrorism Links
International Counter-Terrorism Legislation and Practice
A review of legislation and practice in counter terrorism in selected countries published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. (PDF)
Metropolitan Police Service - Specialist Operations
MPS web pagesfrom the new Counter Terrorism Command.
RUSI Homeland Security and Resilience
This page is about RUSI's Homeland Security and Resilience Department. 'The Department is a professional forum for decision makers, solution providers and policy makers'.
US/UK Treaty Agreement for Critical Infrastructure Protection
Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the United States of America on Cooperation in Science and Technology for Critical Infrastructure Protection and other Homeland/CivilSecurity matters.
USA Department of Homeland Security
Website of the US department concerned with security matters. It takes the lead in evaluating vulnerabilities and takes the lead on coordinating with other federal, state, local, and private entities to ensure the most effective response.
Emergency Planning Practice Links
A network of UK voluntary groups dedicated to saving life and alleviating suffering.
Emergency Planning : The Department of Health
National Health Service contingency plans and advice on preparing for specific types of disasters and attacks.
Institute of Civil Protection and Emergency Management
Practitoners organisation website.
Major Incident Procedure Manual
The 'Major Incident Procedure Manual' provides summaries of the responses and responsibilities of each of the emergency services at a major incident in London, as well as an outline of the support role offered by local authorities.
Buncefield Oil Depot Explosion
The Health and Safety Executive joint investigation into the December 2005 explosions at Buncefield Oil Storage Depot, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; where a large fire engulfed a high proportion of the site and over 40 people were injured.
Updated September 2011
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