The UK Resilience Forum (UKRF) met on Tuesday 3 May, bringing
together stakeholders from across the private, public and
voluntary sectors, as well as our emergency services, to work
together on bolstering the UK’s resilience.
Chaired by Lead Minister for Resilience and Minister for the
Cabinet Office, Rt Hon. QC MP, the Forum was
established in July to strengthen the country’s resilience by
improving communication and collaboration on risk, emergency
preparedness, crisis response and recovery.
Its membership builds on those with duties under the Civil
Contingencies Act. It includes national, regional and local
government, private and voluntary sectors, emergency services and
utilities. There are also representatives who join as voices for
communities and people impacted by emergencies, including
Citizens Advice, National Emergencies Trust, and the Voluntary
and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership.
Members were notified that the Civil Contingencies Act
post-implementation Review was published on 1 April, which
provides a framework for emergency preparedness in the UK and
acts as a critical building block to make the UK as resilient as
possible. Also, that the Biological Security Strategy Call for
Evidence had been completed.
Lead Minister for Resilience and Minister for the Cabinet
Office, Rt Hon. QC MP, said:
Continuing to bolster the UK’s resilience from domestic and
global threats is vital, and the Forum provides space for a range
of crucial organisations and partners to provide insight so we
can ensure our emergency preparedness remains effective and
aligned.
We continue to identify key challenges on the horizon in order to
effectively pivot resources to tackle risks, and to prioritise
preparedness accordingly, working collaboratively to protect the
UK.
Assistant Chief Constable at the National Police Chief’s
Council, Owen Weatherill, commented:
Effective partnership working across agencies is vital to
ensuring that we keep our communities safe. The UK Resilience
Forum is therefore a welcome and critical structure, which allows
key stakeholders to better plan and prepare. Importantly,
provides a way of sharing sector experience and learning with
government so we can work together on how best to deliver more
effective joint agency responses in the future.
The UKRF will meet every six months.
As part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to transparency, a
note of each UKRF meeting will be published.
