Recommendation MAI-34: Review GMFRS information sharing during incidents
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
Recommendation
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service should review its guidance and policies on how it receives and passes on information during a Major Incident. It is important that, for any update given, it is established when the last time the person receiving the update was provided with information, to ensure that they are completely up to date.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to review its information sharing guidance. In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that positive examples were being shared regarding alerting systems, such as Blackberry Athoc, to allow quick sharing of emergency information, though the update did not mention reviewing guidance and policies or establishing when recipients were last provided with updates (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Earlier, in November 2025, the UK Government recorded that the recommendation was accepted in full (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
Accepted in full
Delivery
Cabinet Office says in progress (27 February 2026)
Positive examples are being shared around the use of alerting systems, for example Blackberry Athoc. This allows for quick time sharing of critical information (e.g. a METHANE message).
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
Positive examples are being shared around the use of alerting systems, for example Blackberry Athoc. This allows for quick time sharing of critical information (e.g. a METHANE message).
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Published evidence
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Summary by this site of the published finding
JESIP Joint Doctrine updated to v3.1 (April 2024) following inquiry findings on interoperability failures. Operation Plato reformed to cover all terrorist attack types, not just firearms. Emphasis extended beyond command-level to frontline responders.
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement