Author Archives: HM Government

As the General Election approaches it is important that individuals and organisations consider their protective security provisions, they remain vigilant and report suspicious behaviour and items to police at the earliest opportunity. The UK threat level remains at SEVERE, meaning an attack is highly likely. Terrorist groups and individuals continue to encourage individuals to plan and mount attacks in the UK, particularly against symbols of the State and crowded places. Low sophistication, low complexity methodologies are the simplest to execute and require little or no training. We urge the public to be alert but not alarmed and the police service and our partners are doing everything we can to help protect the security of citizens, communities, public institutions and businesses.

There is also valuable advice to assist individuals in keeping themselves safe, although it’s important to remember that a key principle of personal security is that the individual must carry the main responsibility and remain vigilant. Whilst it is impossible to provide advice for every eventuality, there is generic advice available from various sources. We would like to direct organisations to the [UK National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) website] (https://www.gov.uk/nactso) where a range of protective security guidance is available.

Further protective security guidance is available on the website for Centre for the Protection on National Infrastructure (CPNI) including guidance for personnel security through a staff vigilance campaign.

Protective Security Advice

The message is clear – ‘don’t worry, don’t delay, just act’ In an emergency call the police dial 999.

Protective security advice is available on the NaCTSO website in the guidance ‘Recognising the terrorist threat’ and advises on:

• reporting suspicious activity to the police by calling confidentially on 0800 789 321 or at gov.uk/ACT
• reporting online terrorist and violent extremist material online
• understanding how to respond in a weapons or firearms attack follow the RUN HIDE TELL principles
• understanding how to respond to suspicious items
• understanding how to respond if there is a bomb threat
• understand what to do if a suspicious package is delivered to your home or work address

Personal Security for those canvassing

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust provide advice for those individuals and groups who are campaigning and canvassing.

Advice for officials

Can be obtained through local authorities or the Electoral Commission The College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) have produced guidance on Maintaining order and preventing undue influence outside polling stations. The APP outlines the necessity for Returning Officers and their respective Police Force to initiate early contact in planning for the Election. The Electoral Commission provide a variety of guidance products, including a handbook for Polling Station staff at www.electoralcommission.org.uk.

Additional Advice

Is available from the Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure

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Can you be instrumental in determining causes of civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents worldwide? If so, this Inspector of Air Accidents (Engineering) role is for you, and we’d like to hear from you.

The purpose of this role is to investigate the engineering aspects of aircraft accidents and serious incidents involving civil aircraft operating in the UK and to UK registered or manufactured aircraft overseas.

A full job description and role profile is on the Civil Service Jobs website.

Read about a week in the life of an Engineering Inspector below.

The deadline for applications is 7 June 2017.

I am often asked about what I do. When I tell people, the response I usually get is, “wow, that must be fascinating”.

Well, actually it is. I am an aircraft engineer and after a successful, broad and varied career in the Royal Navy I joined the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) four years ago. It was clear to me when I joined and still is today; if you love aircraft, engineering and are inquisitive by nature, enjoy learning and like puzzling things out, this job is ideal.

So what does it really involve?

Weeks are never the same and my time is taken up with the various stages of my investigations into air accidents and incidents large and small. At any one time I can have three or four on the go.

Accidents by their nature are unexpected and can and do happen any time, day or night. My involvement starts after the Branch has been informed that something has happened and I am assigned along with Flight Data and Operations colleagues to the case. This can be an investigation anywhere in the UK or to assist worldwide. I am usually at a high state of readiness to deploy as I move up the AAIB engineering duty rota which ensures at least one of 12 engineers is available 24/7, 365 days per year. Once assigned I deploy to wherever the aircraft might be. It can be anything from a micro-light, to a helicopter or even several hundred tonnes of airliner. The aircraft may be in small pieces in a field or parked at an airport stand with no sign outwardly of anything wrong.

This initial stage is fascinating and may take several days. In many cases I have to temper my enthusiasm given that this may well be a stressful or even life-changing experience for those involved. I need to remain calm and sympathetic to people who may be highly emotional, shocked and upset as I unravel what might be the worst day of their lives. Talking to relatives can be a challenging part of the role, but in some ways it can be rewarding, knowing that I am providing the answers they need to help them understand what happened, which may provide some comfort. I also have to be comfortable in myself, mindful that not all – but some – accident sites are dreadful to say the least. While psychological support is provided, the job is not for the faint-hearted.

Having gathered initial evidence with my colleagues, we formally present to the Chief Inspector and our peers our findings and thoughts as to where we think the investigation is leading.

As the engineering aspect of the investigation progresses, lines of inquiry emerge which require exploring in detail. This often means looking at drawings and manuals to understand the workings and design intent of the systems involved. This may then lead to reconstruction or, conversely, dismantling. I may then need to examine further and test components in our hangar or, if needed, with the manufacturer wherever they may be in the world; the job does involve a lot of travel. One day it might be a simple bolt or fastener, the next, a modern avionic system. I deal with both with an open but methodical and questioning mind with the same attention to detail. I constantly interact with knowledgeable experts at all levels and tact and diplomacy comes to the fore during my work and gets things done.

Rigorous and occasionally lively discussions are held with colleagues as the investigation progresses to identify the facts and causes and to formulate effective safety recommendations to prevent reoccurrence. Throughout the investigation I work towards producing a clear and accurate written report which conveys the circumstances and details of the engineering features of the accident so that it can be read and understood by people within aviation and by ordinary members of the public. I also have to be confident in my investigation when I give evidence publically to the Coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland).

In between investigations, and sometimes simultaneously for that matter, I have the opportunity to learn and train to improve my aviation knowledge and investigative skills. This might be a short course run by an aircraft manufacturer on their product or a university course looking at, for example, new materials. It can also be an in-house course to hone or refine a specific skill, for example microscope photography. Time is also made available for me to be part of aviation by simulator flying or flying in light aircraft to maintain a private pilot’s licence.

An AAIB engineering inspector is a fascinating and rewarding job. No two weeks are ever the same except for one thing, the knowledge that I and my colleagues are working to make commercial and private aviation safer by understanding what went wrong and what went right during accidents and incidents. Although the job can be difficult in some respects, given the sometimes distressing part my work, it is very rewarding and I thoroughly enjoy coming to work at the AAIB.

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Thank you Mr President.

I would like to thank the Prosecutor for her report and her briefing today. And the United Kingdom wishes to reiterate its support for the work of the Prosecutor and for the role that the ICC plays in bringing those responsible for serious crimes of international concern to account.

Mr President,

Libya needs urgent progress towards full political reconciliation now more than ever. The scale of the crisis facing the people of Libya is grave. It is a crisis where the fighting continues year after year and where international humanitarian law violations and human rights violations and abuses continue unabated. The people of Libya deserve a better future.

Establishing effective governance is key: Libya’s legitimate political institutions need to work together to break the political deadlock which is prolonging instability and the suffering of the Libyan people. Libya’s political and social groups need to seize the momentum offered by the welcome meetings between Prime Minister Seraj and Marshall Heftar earlier this week to set out a path towards Libyan reconciliation and unity. Security, stability and prosperity can only be achieved when the country’s leaders choose to get together and work out a plan for the common benefit of the Libyan people.

Mr President,

The UK welcomes the Prosecutor’s ongoing efforts to investigate alleged crimes despite the practical difficulties in conducting investigations inside Libya.

The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned at the continued violence between armed groups across the country – and particularly by reports of human rights abuses and violations by combatants in Benghazi and elsewhere, including attacks on innocent civilians and on medical facilities. There is no justification for attacking medical facilities protected under international humanitarian law.

We note that the Prosecutor is giving consideration to opening an investigation into alleged criminal acts against migrants in Libya. Such alleged crimes provide further justification for tackling migration ‘upstream’, so that the international community helps create more opportunities in migrants’ home countries.

The United Kingdom is grateful for the Prosecutor’s update on the cases of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Senussi. We support the Prosecutor’s call for the Libyan authorities to do everything possible to ensure transfer of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi to the ICC, and to consult the Court on any problems that might impede his transfer to The Hague. We look forward to the outcome of the Court’s consideration of the UNSMIL report on the domestic proceedings against Mr al-Senussi.

The United Kingdom commends the continued engagement of the Libyan Prosecutor-General and the Libyan Representatives to the Court. We call on other States and relevant international organisations to assist the Libyan authorities in their efforts to build the rule of law in Libya. We thank the Prosecutor for the update on allegations of torture committed against Saif al-Islam Gadaffi in Al-Hadba prison, and we welcome the fact that one of the accused who had been returned to his position at the prison, has now been removed.

We also thank the Prosecutor for her briefing on the case against Al-Tuhamy Mohamed Khaled, who is wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Libya in 2011. We fully support the Court’s call for cooperation, from members of the Council, Libya and all states, to provide information to facilitate a swift arrest of Mr Al-Tuhamy and ensure his surrender to the ICC. It is crucial that he and other individuals responsible for war crimes in Libya do not become fugitives from justice.

In conclusion, the United Kingdom understands the financial and resource constraints faced by the Prosecutor’s Office and the need to ensure adequate funding for the Court’s Libya investigations. We are committed to working with others to ensure the Court has the resources necessary for its work, while ensuring that the ICC budget is as streamlined as possible.

Thank you Mr President.

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A webinar for this Defence and Security Accelerator competition will be held on 30 May 2017.

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email academy@noms.gsi.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology… read more