London Resilience Forum

London Resilience Forum
Name	London Resilience Forum
Formation	2004
Type	Multi-agency partnership
Purpose	Civil protection, resilience, emergency planning
Headquarters	City of London
Location	London
Region served	Greater London
Membership	Boroughs of London, City of London Corporation, Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade, NHS England, Transport for London, London Councils
Leader title	Chair
Parent organization	Civil Contingencies Secretariat

Contents

London Resilience Forum The London Resilience Forum is a multi-agency partnership established to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery for emergencies affecting London. It brings together statutory bodies such as the Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade and NHS England with local authorities including the City of London Corporation and the London Borough of Camden, as well as infrastructure owners like Transport for London and energy companies such as National Grid plc. The forum operates alongside national bodies including the Cabinet Office and the Civil Contingencies Secretariat to align regional resilience with plans for events such as the 2012 Summer Olympics and incidents like the 7 July 2005 London bombings.

History

The forum traces origins to post-war civil defence arrangements and the modernisation driven by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the establishment of the Cabinet Office’s resilience architecture. Major drivers included preparedness lessons from the Great Storm of 1987, the IRA bombing campaign in London, and large-scale emergencies such as the Hurricane Katrina international discourse on urban resilience. The Forum played a central role in planning for the 2012 Summer Olympics and adapting to threats from pandemics exemplified by the 2009 swine flu pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time, it incorporated strategic partners from utilities like National Grid plc and Thames Water, transport bodies like Transport for London and Network Rail, and health bodies such as NHS England and the London Ambulance Service.

The Forum functions as a strategic board bringing together representatives from the Mayor of London’s office, the 32 London boroughs, the City of Westminster, the City of London Corporation, and emergency services including the Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade, and London Ambulance Service. It includes health partners such as NHS England and the Health and Safety Executive, infrastructure partners like Transport for London, Network Rail, National Grid plc, and Thames Water, and national agencies including the Cabinet Office and the Environment Agency. Private sector engagement has featured firms like BT Group, Serco Group, Atkins, and insurers such as Lloyd's of London. Academic and voluntary links include institutions like King's College London, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the British Red Cross, and the Royal Voluntary Service.

The Forum’s remit covers strategic risk assessment, preparedness planning, capability development, and recovery coordination across Greater London. It oversees strategic risk registers aligned with guidance from the Civil Contingencies Secretariat and contributes to national frameworks led by the Home Office and the Cabinet Office. Responsibilities include coordinating multi-agency command structures involving organizations such as the Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service, and HM Revenue and Customs during incidents, working with transport operators like Transport for London, Network Rail, Heathrow Airport Holdings, and Gatwick Airport Ltd to maintain resilience, and liaising with utility companies such as National Grid plc and Thames Water to manage infrastructure failure. The Forum also interfaces with international partners including delegations from New York City, Paris, Tokyo, and agencies like the World Health Organization for pandemic planning.

Key programs have included city-wide risk assessments feeding into resilience exercises, business continuity engagement with chambers such as the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and public communication campaigns developed with broadcasters such as the BBC and ITV. Projects have targeted critical infrastructure resilience with partners including National Grid plc, Thames Water, Transport for London, and Network Rail; health surge planning with NHS England and Public Health England; and counter-terrorism liaison with MI5 and the Metropolitan Police Service Counter Terrorism Command. The Forum led coordination for the 2012 Summer Olympics logistics alongside the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, worked on heatwave response plans referencing the Heatwave Plan for England, and developed pandemic exercises informed by scenarios from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization. Collaborative resilience work has involved academic partners such as Imperial College London and University College London.

The Forum coordinates large-scale multi-agency responses to events such as terrorist attacks (referencing incidents like the 7 July 2005 London bombings), major transport disruptions on networks operated by Transport for London and Network Rail, and flooding events linked to the River Thames and the Thames Barrier. It oversees and commissions multi-agency exercises with participants from the Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade, NHS England, British Transport Police, Civil Aviation Authority, and private sector partners like Heathrow Airport Holdings and Gatwick Airport Ltd. Exercises have simulated scenarios including biological incidents informed by Public Health England guidance, cyber incidents engaging firms such as BT Group and BAE Systems, and mass casualty events coordinated with major hospitals like St Thomas' Hospital and Guy's Hospital. After-action reviews feed into policy updates shared with bodies such as the Mayor of London’s office and the Cabinet Office.

Governance links the Forum to the Mayor of London’s strategic priorities and national oversight from the Cabinet Office and the Home Office. Accountability routes include reporting to the London Resilience Board and alignment with statutory duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Scrutiny has come from local authorities including London Councils and parliamentary committees such as the Home Affairs Select Committee. Independent assurance has involved auditors and inspectors like the National Audit Office and the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. The Forum publishes strategic assessments and plans shared with stakeholders including the Environment Agency, Natural England, and community organizations such as the Samaritans and Citizens Advice.

Category:Emergency management in London