Recommendation MAI-145: Strategic Co-ordinating Group within two hours
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
Recommendation
The Home Office should consider the introduction of a national standard requiring a meeting of the Strategic Co-ordinating Group to take place no more than two hours after the declaration of a Major Incident where more than one emergency service is engaged in the response to that incident.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked the Home Office to consider requiring Strategic Co-ordinating Groups within two hours. In an update published by the Cabinet Office in February 2026, the department stated that revised Civil Contingencies approved professional practice (APP) was launched to police forces in April 2024 (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It noted that the work strand was complete for submission to National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) governance in December 2024, but the update did not mention a two-hour meeting standard (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Earlier, the UK Government recorded in November 2025 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 completed (27 February 2026)
Revised Civil contingencies Guidance - The requirement for revising this approved professional practice (APP) was agreed upon in 2022. This review is now complete, and the updated guidance was launched to forces in April 2024. As the new Command and Control approved professional practice (APP) (recommendation 58) continues to be developed, this may result in further updates to the Civil Contingencies guidance to ensure both are aligned. This work strand is now complete and will be submitted for closure via NPCC governance in December 2024.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
Revised Civil contingencies Guidance - The requirement for revising this approved professional practice (APP) was agreed upon in 2022. This review is now complete, and the updated guidance was launched to forces in April 2024. As the new Command and Control approved professional practice (APP) (recommendation 58) continues to be developed, this may result in further updates to the Civil Contingencies guidance to ensure both are aligned. This work strand is now complete and will be submitted for closure via NPCC governance in December 2024.
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