Statement to parliament: Maritime and Coastguard Agency business plan 2019 to 2020
I am proud to announce the publication of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) business plan for 2019 to 2020. MCA does vital work to save lives at sea, regulate ship standards and protect the marine environment. The agency affects not just those working on the coast or at sea, it upholds the legacy of our great maritime nation.
The business plan sets out:
the vision for a future aviation strategy, including the next phase of helicopter contracts
improvement to the already first class HM Coastguard
the next phase of the Survey & Inspection Transformation Programme
At the international level, MCA will work alongside the Department and with the input of other government departments to represent the UK’s interests at the International Maritime Organization, and at other relevant bodies.
Domestically, MCA will continue to work collaboratively to grow the maritime sector in the UK so that it continues to contribute positively to the economy. They will also provide a valuable contribution to the delivery the ambitions set out in Maritime 2050 and its accompanying route maps.
This plan allows service users and members of the public the opportunity to see how the agency i s developing and using new technologies to improve its services and performance.
The key performance indicators will assess how the agency is performing in operating its key services, managing reforms and the agency finances throughout the year.
The business plan will be available electronically on GOV.UK and copies will be placed in the libraries of both houses.
This month marks two years since the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) launched Project Servator at HM Naval Base Portsmouth and the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) sites in Berkshire. The MDP’s highly visible Project Servator deployments can now be seen at a range of sites and locations across the UK, including Defence HQ in Whitehall and HM Naval Base Clyde, and a surge capability is also available where required.
So, what is so special about Project Servator and why is it such an important operational tactic for the MDP?
The purpose of the MDP is to deliver unique specialist policing to protect the nation’s defence and national infrastructure, keeping its people and assets safe and providing visible and active policing, which reassures local communities. Project Servator is just one of the tactics used to achieve this and, alongside colleagues and partners across the UK, the MDP’s involvement is part of a bigger picture focused on counter terrorism and gathering intelligence.
Servator is a Latin word which means ‘watcher’ or ‘observer’ and whilst this is an accurate descriptor of a Project Servator officer, it merely touches the surface of what is happening during these policing operations. Project Servator officers, in uniform and plain clothes, are not just “watching” and “observing”, they have been specially trained to spot the telltale signs of terrorist and other criminal activity.
MDP Project Servator teams have identified an array of criminality ranging from the carrying of knives, weapons and drugs, to shoplifting, immigration and driving offences, to potential terrorist related activity.
There is, of course, not always evidence of a crime but, where the officers believe that a person could be carrying out terrorist related activity, intelligence is shared with specialist teams for assessment and possible sharing with other policing colleagues.
Use of police assets, such as dogs, armed officers, live monitored CCTV and vehicle checkpoints as well as joined up working with other police forces and security staff, are all major components used to keep the public and Defence community safe, whilst providing a reassuring police presence. The MDP Whitehall team work as part of the pan-London team alongside colleagues from British Transport Police, City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), with whom they frequently deploy in and around Westminster.
Chief Superintendent Dawn Morris, MPS lead on Project Servator said:
“One of the great strengths of Project Servator, particularly in London, is the fact that by working together, we have the whole of the capital covered and there is no safe place for any would-be terrorist. This is only possible with the great support and joined up approach from all of the other police forces that operate in London, which includes our colleagues from the Ministry of Defence Police.”
The joined up approach that Project Servator is founded on extends to engagement with members of the public, local businesses and the communities served. As Assistant Chief Constable Dave Long said:
“Cooperation between the public, organisations, partners and the police is one of the most powerful tools to tackle the challenge that the UK faces from terrorism and, with the ongoing threat, this cooperation is more important than ever.
“We rely on staff and members of the public, within the communities that we protect, to be our extra eyes and ears. Everybody has an important role to play by reporting any suspicious behaviour that they see or hear, or anything that just doesn’t feel right. However insignificant you think something may be, trust your instincts and report it because your actions could potentially save lives.”
To report anything suspicious:
tell a police officer or call the MDP on 01371 854444
for local police call 101
complete the confidential reporting form at www.gov.uk/act
in an emergency, always call 999
To find out more about MDP Project Servator visit the GOV.UK page or follow the MDP and #ProjectServator on:
Guidance on how to help, including what suspicious activity to look out for, is available on www.gov.uk/act.
News story: New Crown Commercial Service website
New Crown Commercial Service website – GOV.UK
The Crown Commercial Service website has moved. This page will no longer be updated.
Please use this link to access our new website. Once there, we hope you’ll take a little time to familiarise yourself with our new home and some of the many improvements we’ve made.
The redesign has been based on your feedback – we’ve addressed some of the problems of the past and have been inspired by user suggestions.
Our framework contents and pipeline pages have moved to our new home but are now accessible within a much more satisfying user experience.
Among the changes you’ll notice at our new website are:
Framework details can now be filtered by category
Procurement pipeline pages are displayed as ‘Upcoming deals’
New and comprehensive help and guidance for first time users about our routes to market and how to buy from our frameworks, catalogues and portals
More detailed and dynamic news pages
Our new website is your single source for everything you need from Crown Commercial Service. It has been designed around customers and suppliers and will make public sector procurement simple.
Published 28 March 2019
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Press release: £2.5m injection for drone swarms
The ‘Many Drones Make Light Work’ project is the largest single contract awarded by DASA to date. The funding will steer the project for around 20 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into the final stage of development, which will ultimately be managed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
UAS are currently in widespread use around the world, but the ability to employ a swarm of these systems to operate collaboratively to achieve a common goal will be of great benefit to Defence. A swarm could support lower operating costs, greater system efficiency as well as increased resilience in the following areas:
Situational awareness
Medical assistance
Logistics resupply
Explosive ordinance detection and disposal
Confusion and deception
Defence Minister Stuart Andrew said:
The MOD continues to invest in pioneering technology that enhances capability, reduces risk to personnel and enables us to better perform our tasks. Drone swarm technology can revolutionise how we conduct intelligence gathering, humanitarian aid, disposal of explosives and supply our troops on the battlefield.
Head of DASA Lucy Mason said:
I am delighted that defence funding has enabled the creation of a collaboration from across industry sectors that will evaluate the latest thinking in swarming drone systems. We are committed to driving innovation through creating partnerships and collaboration, harnessing the best ideas and innovative thinking for UK defence and security.
Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd, a world leader in autonomous system solutions, will act as the consortia lead and system integrator, with IQHQ, Plextex, Airbus and the University of Durham as part of the contracted team. Each organisation brings a crucial technology and skill set to the team in this 18-month ‘integration concept evaluation’ phase which will culminate in live flight demonstrations to the military.
Managing Director, Blue Bear Systems, Ian Williams-Wynn said:
The ability to deploy a swarm of low cost autonomous systems delivers a new paradigm for battlefield operations. During this project we will deploy next generation autonomy, machine learning, and AI to reduce the number of operators required, the time it takes to train them, and the cognitive burden on any operator during active operations. This allows very complex swarm-based missions to be performed simultaneously against single or multiple targets in a time sensitive and highly effective manner.
Currently, operational systems require one or more operators to pilot the aircraft or to closely manage the flight mission. This is manpower intensive and consumes time and resource to train operators.
The UK Armed Forces are actively seeking robotic solutions to provide a ‘Force-Multiplier’ effect whereby a greater military capability is delivered by fewer people and equipment. The swarm system is one possible solution to this multiple domain requirement as it will cover larger areas of battlespace more quickly at lower cost and reduced man hours. It also removes the operator from potentially harmful situations.
The future project phase will seek to establish a more ‘self-sufficient’ UAS swarm, providing the military with the ability to operate in increasingly complex and contested environments. Effective Human Machine Teaming will remain at the core of this research to ensure that the human remains firmly in control of the system.
Dstl Project Technical Lead, Antony Grabham said:
The Phase 3 competition requirements were deliberately very challenging, as we wanted to drive rapid innovation and encourage imaginative solutions. The winning consortium really highlights the best of UK Industry, showcasing how our world leading Small and Medium Enterprise Companies can be harnessed to deliver a transformation in military capability. Enabled by an open systems architecture approach, the industry team is focused on developing an underpinning command and control and information management architecture to maximise the swarm’s ability to gather and share battle-winning information.
This announcement follows the recent allocation of £31m by the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson into new mini-drones. Money from the Transformation Fund will provide troops with an eye-in-the-sky to give them greater awareness to outmanoeuvre enemies on the battlefield.
The new £160m Transformation Fund will also develop swarm squadrons of network enabled drones capable of confusing and overwhelming enemy air defences. By working with our F35 and Typhoon combat aircraft, these swarms will allow our pilots to deliver precise, lethal combat power more effectively and safely.
Statement to parliament: Motoring agency business plans for 2019 to 2020
I am pleased to announce the publication of the 2019 to 2020 business plans for the Department for Transport’s motoring agencies:
The business plans set out:
the services each agency will deliver and any significant changes they plan to make
the resources they require
the key performance indicators, by which their performance will be assessed
These plans allow service users and members of the public to assess how the agencies are performing in operating their key services, managing reforms and the agency finances.
The business plans will be available electronically on GOV.UK and copies will be placed in the libraries of both houses.