Ensure immediate HART resource deployment
The Department of Health and Social Care and the National Ambulance Resilience Unit should develop procedures to ensure that, so far as possible, each ambulance service trust is able to deploy or call upon HART resources immediately in the event of a Major Incident. As part of that, the Department of Health and Social Care and the National Ambulance Resilience Unit should develop procedures to ensure that, so far as possible, each ambulance service trust can call upon cross-border support in respect of HART resources immediately in the event of a Major Incident. There may be some incidents that are so significant that an individual ambulance service will need to mobilise its own HART resources and also draw upon cross-border support. Procedures need to accommodate this.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to implement improvements. The response committed to reviewing interoperability arrangements between emergency services and strengthening joint training and exercising protocols for major incidents.
Progress Timeline
As part of the NHS Core Standards for emergency preparedness resilience and response (EPRR) each ambulance service is required to have the following in place in relation to Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) deployment: * Four HART personnel must be available or released and mobilised to respond locally to any incident identified as potentially requiring HART capabilities within 15 minutes of the call being accepted by the provider. * Once a HART capability is confirmed as being required at the scene (with a corresponding safe system of work) organisations must ensure that six HART personnel are released and available to respond to scene within 10 minutes of that confirmation. The six includes the four already mobilised. * Organisations must ensure that their 'on duty' HART personnel and specialist vehicles and equipment to maintain a 30-minute notice to move to anywhere in the United Kingdom following a mutual aid request endorsed by NHS England or National Ambulance Response Unit. Procedures are developed and implemented and are monitored as part of the NHS Core Standards self-assessment assurance process. Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) resources can be deployed and respond as per the recommendation.
As part of the NHS Core Standards for emergency preparedness resilience and response (EPRR) each ambulance service is required to have the following in place in relation to Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) deployment: * Four HART personnel must be available or released and mobilised to respond locally to any incident identified as potentially requiring HART capabilities within 15 minutes of the call being accepted by the provider. * Once a HART capability is confirmed as being required at the scene (with a corresponding safe system of work) organisations must ensure that six HART personnel are released and available to respond to scene within 10 minutes of that confirmation. The six includes the four already mobilised. * Organisations must ensure that their 'on duty' HART personnel and specialist vehicles and equipment to maintain a 30-minute notice to move to anywhere in the United Kingdom following a mutual aid request endorsed by NHS England or National Ambulance Response Unit. Procedures are developed and implemented and are monitored as part of the NHS Core Standards self-assessment assurance process. Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) resources can be deployed and respond as per the recommendation.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Government published formal Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations dashboard on GOV.UK (14 November 2025) tracking all 149 recommendations with implementation progress updates.
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent 3 April 2025. Creates two tiers: Standard Duty (200-799 capacity) and Enhanced Duty (800+). SIA will be regulator. Not yet in force -- at least 24 months before enforcement (expected April 2027).
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.
NPCC, Counter Terrorism Policing and College of Policing provided comprehensive updates to Sir John Saunders demonstrating "continued drive to improve collective response to terrorist incidents."
View detailed findings
Representatives working with UK Intelligence Community to address closed Volume Three recommendations. Cross-government monitoring ongoing.