Key information
Publication type: General
Publication date:
Contents
The new review by Lord Toby Harris has found that substantial progress has been made by London’s emergency services and key agencies since 2016 as a result of action initiated by the Mayor.
In July 2021, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, commissioned Lord Harris to undertake a new wide-ranging review of London’s preparedness for a terrorist attack, against a backdrop of the changing nature of the threat of terrorism facing the capital. This included a rise in online extremism, an increase in referrals to Prevent for concerns regarding extreme right-wing radicalisation, more individuals self-radicalising and learning techniques online and the increasing possibility of hostile state-sponsored acts against the capital.
Sadiq also asked Lord Harris to consider any implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for London’s immediate and long-term preparedness for a major terrorist incident. This included identifying areas of vulnerability based on the ways in which the pandemic has changed how people live and work, and the impact of lockdowns on wider security awareness and expertise.
Lord Harris’s second review follows his earlier assessment commissioned by the Mayor in 2016, which resulted in more than 100 recommendations* to better prepare the capital for a terrorist attack - the vast majority of which have since been implemented.
In preparing his new review, Lord Harris has worked with London’s emergency services, the transport sector, local government, and officials from several central government departments to review processes, understand new threats and challenges and identify areas where further progress could be made. He also spoke with representatives from across the faith, voluntary and community and business sectors to discuss the role of London’s diverse communities in both preparedness and during the aftermath of a terror attack.
Lord Harris found notable improvements in communication and coordination by the emergency services and partner agencies, with substantial learning having taken place following the tragic terror attacks perpetrated in the capital and elsewhere over this period. His report also notes the exceptional levels of cooperation that now exist across the Met Police, British Transport Police and City of London Police forces, which are so crucial to protecting Londoners in the event of an attack.
He has made 294 new recommendations that focus on several key areas including ensuring emergency services are properly funded and fully equipped, providing and refreshing specialist training for relevant teams to deal with specific types of attacks, and improving information sharing across those with a role to play in keeping London safe - many of these represent simple adjustments to existing processes.