Ministers have floated plans for a Home Defence Programme (HDP) to boost Britain's resilience in the face of any potential conflict affecting the UK. The "evolving" programme would combine civilian and military efforts at a time of war, with thousands of Brits potentially recruited to help the army protect critical infrastructure.
Former Cabinet Office minister Dan Jarvis told Parliament in October last year that the programme would provide a baseline understanding of what help the military would need and how roles may be filled during a conflict. Reports have likened current proposals to the Home Guard set up in 1940, when Britain was at war with Nazi Germany. Its members were to provide a last line of defence if German forces were to mount an invasion of the UK.
Strategic Defence Review Proposals
The Government's Strategic Defence Review (SDR) calls for a collective effort to defend the country, galvanising resources from industry, civil society and the population at large. This would include strengthening the protection of Britain's critical national infrastructure in sectors such as energy, telecoms, food production and water.
While the Ministry of Defence is tasked with laying out what form the new force will take, the SDR suggested it could be modelled on the Reserves and led by the army. A new force of volunteers tasked with protecting national critical infrastructure could be recruited locally, bear arms and be equipped with basic communications and drones, according to the SDR. It said such plans would also have to "nest" within the HDP.
Army Chief's Warning
Army chiefs have long been signalling the need for the wider population to be prepared for war. The head of the British Army, General Sir Roly Walker, said earlier this month that every citizen would be asked to play their part to defend the country and make sacrifices. In remarks to troops at Catterick Garrison caught on camera by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, Sir Roly said: "There was a time our nation didn't want to think of a time when it would need its soldiers to fight in a war.
"Indeed, very soon, the political leaders of this country will start to have a frank conversation with the citizens of this country about just what is going on and where the risk lies." He said Brits would be told they will need to "play a part" in the defence and security of the country. The army chief added that "ultimately", troops will "need them to back us" as the military takes the fight to the enemy.
Former Adviser's Call for Public Information
A day after his remarks were reported, former national security adviser Lord Peter Ricketts told the BBC ministers must do more to inform the public about the looming threat from Russia, adding that eventually "people are going to land up being killed somewhere".
