Skip to main content

Civil Defence - Should we see a return


War on the continent, US carrier strike group off Venezuela, Chinas claim to Taiwan, a few but pertinent reasons to be concerned about global stability. Add in local concerns around immigration, farming, healthcare, the economy and defence, you cant help but look at the future and be concerned about what lies ahead.

While I cannot change the political landscape bar my right to vote, I can prepare my family for events that may impact us directly, and with that I can support my community. Beyond the local community we are looking at national preparedness. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (CCA) makes provision about civil contingencies. It replaced the Civil Defence Act 1948 (Northern Ireland 1950). The CCA defines the obligations of certain organisations to prepare for different types of emergencies and provides additional powers for the government to use in the event of a large scale emergency. In short this puts into legislation that organisations must prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, including war.

You don't have to think for too long to come to the conclusion that our public services are already under significant pressure, how will they manage if our country went to war? You also don't have to look to far to see that other countries are preparing their citizens for war. The European Commission released guidance in March for the need to foster a culture of preparedness and resilience. Sweden has issued a survival guide, "If Crisis or War Comes" which details important information around preparedness, resistance and warning systems. Poland is training thousands of citizens in military, medical and survival skills as part of an effort to strengthen national defence. Finally, Germany has just voted to introduce voluntary military service where all 18 year olds will be sent a mandatory questionnaire to ask whether they are interested and willing to join the armed forces.

The UK government released the prepare campaign in 2024 which provides advice and guidance for members of the public in how to prepare for emergencies, be more informed about hazards and how to get involved in activities to support the community. 

The Civil Defence Corps (CDC) was active in the UK between 1949 and 1968 and was introduced with the growing tensions of the cold war. It is clear to see that governments across Europe have identified the need to inform their citizens of the importance of preparedness, but does it go far enough? With current geopolitical tensions and national issues should we see a return of the CDC to ensure the safety and defence of the UK?


I’m passionate about continuing my writing, but I can’t do it alone. Your donations help me dedicate more time and energy to creating meaningful work that I hope inspires and connects with others. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference — and I’m deeply grateful for your support.

Support me here

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are you Winter Ready?

When does winter actually start? The astronomical winter begins on the 21st December and ends on the 20th March. This differs somewhat to the meteorological winter which is from the 1st December to the 28th (or 29th during a leap year) February. Does this actually matter I hear you asking. In some sense yes, as it gives you a period of time that you would expect the coldest of weather. However, I am sure we can all relate to how different the climate has been for us here in the UK. Nevertheless once we feel that weather cooling and the darker months are upon us we should be thinking, are we winter ready? Winter ready is different for a 85 year old who lives in rural Scotland compared to a 35 year old with two children. Below I have tried to give you some of my top tips to make sure you are as prepared as you can be for the months ahead. Missed something? Let me and others know so we can all remain safe and prepared for the unexpected. 1. Check your car Cold weather can cause your tyre ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Flooding - When the water rises, we are prepared.

Last week I received what felt like the fifth flood alert text message. In the months gone by I would receive the occasional alert  brush it off and get on with my day. This time I thought to myself, what have I actually done to prepare if the worst was to happen. I have my insurance documents in order, I have bottled water and some food to last the family a few days but other than that nothing. It got me thinking about what else I can do, but it's not just me. Does my family know what to do? Do they know where to switch off the gas and electricity? Do my neighbours? Does my extended family? Resilience goes beyond your own household and extends to your local community. If they fail, who will they turn to?  Community resilience is the gold standard to ensuring true preparedness and I hope by extending my reach I can prompt others to think about their homes, family and local community to prepare. Below is my take on what we should be doing to be best prepared for flooding, but d...
Post a Comment
Read more