Recommendation MAI-81: Improve NWFC Major Incident record-making
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
Recommendation
North West Fire Control should reflect on its approach to record-making during and immediately following a Major Incident, with a view to improving the current practice.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked North West Fire Control to improve its major incident record-making. The Cabinet Office reported in February 2026 that across 50 responding fire and rescue services (FRS), 60 percent had completed the recommendation while two services had not started (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It stated that submitted evidence included reviews of major incident plans, contemporaneous note keeping, decision logging, control room fire standards, and debriefing, though the service is not mentioned (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Previously, the UK Government accepted the recommendation in full in November 2025 (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)
There has been a 30% increase in services that have completed this recommendation in the last reporting period. This takes the total completion rate to 60% across all responding services (50 FRS). To date, only two services have not started this action. Many examples of evidence supplied by services included; adoption of Fire Standards (Control Rooms), review of major incident plans, decision and log keeping (including training), contemporaneous note keeping, debriefing and use of platforms for learning such as NOL and JOL. '
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
There has been a 30% increase in services that have completed this recommendation in the last reporting period. This takes the total completion rate to 60% across all responding services (50 FRS). To date, only two services have not started this action. Many examples of evidence supplied by services included; adoption of Fire Standards (Control Rooms), review of major incident plans, decision and log keeping (including training), contemporaneous note keeping, debriefing and use of platforms for learning such as NOL and JOL. '
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Published evidence
Published findings referenced by inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether the finding is independent or government self-reported. Each finding is this site's summary of what the source found, with a link to the source; this site does not add its own progress rating.
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
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement