UK police, ambulance and fire services are increasing their focus on national resilience and preparedness, just a week after defence secretary Wes Streeting urged the public to stockpile supplies and prepare for natural disasters.
Emergency responders from the UK and allied nations practised tackling complex emergencies in Gloucestershire on Thursday. The training took place as part of efforts to strengthen readiness against evolving threats.
Training at The Fire Service College
“As the threat landscape evolves, it is vital that our civil emergency services and defence partners have opportunities to train together, develop their capabilities and strengthen their readiness,” said Hume Jones, managing director for critical services at Capita, which operates The Fire Service College (FSC).
The 320-acre site includes ultra-realistic structures, such as the M96 motorway, a derailed train carriage and aircraft training frames. The College, which plays a key role in protecting RAF personnel and assets across 38 bases with Capita, is placing increasing emphasis on national resilience and preparedness.
Focus on Preparation
“National resilience starts with preparation and that’s a major focus for us at the College. Emergency responders need the skills, experience and confidence to make critical decisions under pressure. There is range of different challenges they are likely to face. For example, a major transport incident, a complex fire or an emergency affecting essential infrastructure.”
Since acquiring the College from the UK Government in 2013, Capita has invested in modernising its facilities and training programmes, including the introduction of virtual reality (VR) technology alongside practical exercises. The VR technology recreates challenging situations so trainees can develop decision-making, situational awareness and incident management skills in a controlled environment.
Context of the Stockpile Warning
The training comes just a week after defence secretary Wes Streeting told Brits to prepare for food shortages and widespread disruption under a national initiative last Thursday. Brits were asked to stockpile enough food and water to last for three days, in the case of a blackout.
Officially, the measures are intended to ensure households can manage during extreme weather events. However, Mr Streeting drew attention to the threat posed by the UK's adversaries, including cyber attacks, when he addressed the opening of the UK Gun Hall Plant in Telford, Shropshire.
