The nation's preparations for a large-scale security incident
were put to the test last week as the Home Office, Ministry of
Defence and Counter Terrorism Policing planned and conducted a
national exercise to simulate their response to an extreme
national security emergency.
Taking place between 5 and 7 February, more than 120 members of
the armed forces, policing and government simulated their joint
response to a national emergency, such as a major terrorist
incident.
The exercise – known as Octacine 2 – was part of the government's
regular counter-terrorism efforts. The focus was to test the
ability of police and military to work together in extreme
circumstances, as well as familiarising personnel with different
sites and participating in joint briefings.
Octacine 2 built on a previous, similar exercise and was designed
to simulate the deployment of military personnel to support the
Strategic Armed Policing Reserve.
Armed police officers were temporarily redeployed from their
routine roles in order to respond to a major national security
incident, protecting and reassuring the public in a time of
heightened tension.
It simulated the response that would be deployed under Operation
Temperer, a contingency plan drawn up in 2015 to provide military
support to the police in extreme national emergency
circumstances, such as surge support in response to a major
domestic terrorist attack or threat. It covers all of Great
Britain, and is directed by the National Police Chiefs' Council
Counter Terrorism Coordination Committee.
The exercise included a live-play exercise, when the Operation
Temperer national mobilisation coordination centre was stood up
and military and police personnel were deployed to 11 sites
across Great Britain.
Security Minister, , said:
Exercises like Octacine 2 are vital to ensure that our armed
forces and policing partners are able to work well together to
protect the British public from ever present threats.
I am grateful for their tireless and dedicated work in serving
our country, and their ongoing preparation to perform those
critical roles that keep us safe.
Minister for Armed Forces, , said:
Our national security is the foundation for this government's
Plan for Change and exercises like this are critically important
to ensure we can respond to threats quickly and effectively.
I'd like to thank all members of our armed forces who are held at
readiness throughout the year, ready to keep the public and
country safe at a moment's notice.
The training, while routine, is crucial for the armed forces to
support policing partners and respond effectively in case of a
major incident. This routine exercise allows us to test
coordination and teamwork with various partners while also
providing a visible presence to reassure and protect the public
in instances of high-risk and national security incidents.
