Civil Contingencies Act 2004 The Civil Contingencies Act, and accompanying non-legislative measures, will deliver 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 substantive parts: local arrangements for civil protection (Part 1) and emergency powers (Part 2). Part 1 of the Act and 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. The Act divides local responders into two categories, imposing a different set of duties on each. Those in Category 1 are those organisations at the core of the response to most emergencies such as emergency services, local authorities and NHS bodies. Category 1 responders are subject to the full set of civil protection duties. They are required to: Assess the risk of emergencies occurring and use this to inform contingency planning; Put in place emergency plans; Put in place Business Continuity Management arrangements; Put in place arrangements to 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 co-ordination and efficiency; and Provide advice and assistance to businesses and voluntary organisations about business continuity management (Local Authorities only). Category 2 organisations include the Health and Safety Executive, transport and utility companies. These "co-operating bodies" are less likely to be involved in the heart of planning work but will be heavily involved in incidents that affect their sector. Category 2 responders have a lesser set of duties - co-operating and sharing relevant information with other Category 1 and 2 responders. Category 1 and 2 organisations have to come together to form 'Local Resilience Forums' (based on police areas) to help co-ordination and co-operation between responders at the local level. Part 2 of The Act updates the 1920 Emergency Powers Act to reflect the developments in the intervening years and the risks we face in the 21st century. It allows for the making of temporary special legislation (emergency regulations) to help deal with the most serious of emergencies. << Back to Resources

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