Civil Contingencies Act 2004
What is the Civil Contingencies Act 2004?
The Civil Contingencies Act establishes a new legislative framework for civil protection in the United Kingdom. It imposes a clear set of roles and responsibilities on those organisations with a role to play in preparing for and responding to emergencies. Local authorities are a Category 1 responder under the Act, and have a key role to play in respect in discharging their duties in the legislation.
Provisions of the Civil Contingencies Act
The Act, and accompanying Regulations and guidance, delivers a single framework for civil protection in the United Kingdom capable of meeting the challenges of the twenty first century. The Act is separated into two parts: local arrangements for civil protection (Part 1) and emergency powers (Part 2).
Part 1 of the Act, the supporting Regulations and statutory guidance Emergency Preparedness, establish a clear set of roles and responsibilities for those involved in emergency preparation and response at the local level. Local responders are divided into two categories, with a different set of duties applying to each.
Category 1 responders are those organisations at the core of emergency response (e.g. emergency services, local authorities, NHS bodies). Category 1 responders are subject to the full set of civil protection duties. These include:
- assessing the risk of emergencies occurring and use this to inform contingency planning in the form of a Community Risk Register;
- Put in place emergency plans;
- Create business continuity plans to ensure that they can continue to exercise critical functions in the event of an emergency;
- Make information available to the public about civil protection matters, and maintain arrangements to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency;
- Share information with other local responders to enhance co-ordination;
- Co-operate with other local responders to enhance coordination and efficiency;
- Provide advice and assistance to businesses and voluntary organisations about business continuity management (Local Authorities only).
Category 2 responders are required to co-operate and share information with other Category 1 and 2 responders to ensure that they are well integrated within wider emergency planning frameworks, and contribute their expertise on risks and essential services in the form of the Local Resilience Forums.
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