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Does Britain need a Civil Defence Force?

The Covid-19 pandemic has got me thinking. Does Britain need a dedicated organisation during times of national emergencies? To deal with issues such as emergency response, civilian evacuation, flood control, disaster management, emergency communications, and mass decontamination?

The previous Civil Defence Corps was disbanded in 1968, as many didn't see the point due to the belief that they would provide no help in a nuclear attack. But Civil Defence organisations would provide to be useful in other issues such as flooding and pandemics.And even if war coming to the UK anytime soon is incredibly low, we don't know the future, and it scares me that the current government has no real plans to deal with the civilian population during and after a major war just because it seems highly unlikely at the current time.

The negatives of a Civil Defence Corps is funding and finding volunteers.

edit: Should have mentioned that I am writing a paper, "Does Britain need a Civil Defence Revival?". However due to the Covid 19 pandemic that has hit, I wanted to gather people' opinions on Civil Defence in the UK, as all of us have been effected by the current crisis.
(edited 4 years ago)

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I think it should be comprised of national service so anyone 16-18 is forced into these programs unless they have a valid reason not to.
Reply 2
Avatar for Alexty28
Alexty28
OP
19
Original post by AnonymousNoMore
I think it should be comprised of national service so anyone 16-18 is forced into these programs unless they have a valid reason not to.

Honestly I wouldn't mind this. But reintroducing National Service is another argument.
Don't we already have a civil defense force? Is it not called the emergency services, council services ans specific agencies like the Environment Agency. Having one agency trying to be good at all surely can't be as effective as specialists?
Reply 4
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Napp
22
Doesnt the military usually step into this role when required?
Original post by AnonymousNoMore
I think it should be comprised of national service so anyone 16-18 is forced into these programs unless they have a valid reason not to.


I don't see today's untrained 16 year old's being much friggin use at 'emergency response, civilian evacuation, flood control, disaster management, emergency communications, and mass decontamination?' :tongue:
Original post by StriderHort
I don't see today's untrained 16 year old's being much friggin use at 'emergency response, civilian evacuation, flood control, disaster management, emergency communications, and mass decontamination?' :tongue:

That's why you train them
Original post by AnonymousNoMore
That's why you train them

TBH I don't think that sounds practical for what was asked. You could maybe get them on bulk/supervised disinfection, but training an unpaid conscripted force of 16-18 year old's in disaster management and civilian evacuation? That sounds hugely inefficient and a massive drain on training resources.

Basically I think you're really aiming this at the wrong age group. 20 year old police have a hard enough time being taken seriously as it is, WTF is going to take orders from a 16 year old who's voice hasn't broke?
Reply 8
Avatar for Drewski
Drewski
19
It's got one. It's called the Armed Forces.
Original post by StriderHort
TBH I don't think that sounds practical for what was asked. You could maybe get them on bulk/supervised disinfection, but training an unpaid conscripted force of 16-18 year old's in disaster management and civilian evacuation? That sounds hugely inefficient and a massive drain on training resources.

Basically I think you're really aiming this at the wrong age group. 20 year old police have a hard enough time being taken seriously as it is, WTF is going to take orders from a 16 year old who's voice hasn't broke?

The point isn't to make them intimidating the point is to make them usable for public disasters. Any one can carry a few sand bags.
Original post by AnonymousNoMore
The point isn't to make them intimidating the point is to make them usable for public disasters. Any one can carry a few sand bags.

That's also not going to happen if you've got to train a completely new bunch from scratch every 18 months.
Original post by Drewski
That's also not going to happen if you've got to train a completely new bunch from scratch every 18 months.

You never know. Maybe a month training and then push em out to the world.
Original post by AnonymousNoMore
You never know. Maybe a month training and then push em out to the world.

Having been involved in training for the armed forces, I do know.
Original post by Drewski
Having been involved in training for the armed forces, I do know.

I'm sorry the all knowing of the possibilities of armed force training.
Basic training is 10 weeks, let's use that as a timescale though. Was merely an idea though, one that wasn't supposed to be taken so seriously
Reply 14
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Surnia
20
Original post by ByEeek
Don't we already have a civil defense force? Is it not called the emergency services, council services ans specific agencies like the Environment Agency. Having one agency trying to be good at all surely can't be as effective as specialists?

Exactly. I'm ex-military and we liaised with reps on the ground from the National Rivers Authority (as was) for an incident of local flood control and civilian evacuation. The NRA directed the effort as regards geography because they had times of high tides and where the rivers would peak; where would we have got that info otherwise?
Reply 15
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Alexty28
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19
Original post by Surnia
Exactly. I'm ex-military and we liaised with reps on the ground from the National Rivers Authority (as was) for an incident of local flood control and civilian evacuation. The NRA directed the effort as regards geography because they had times of high tides and where the rivers would peak; where would we have got that info otherwise?

Original post by Drewski
It's got one. It's called the Armed Forces.

Original post by ByEeek
Don't we already have a civil defense force? Is it not called the emergency services, council services ans specific agencies like the Environment Agency. Having one agency trying to be good at all surely can't be as effective as specialists?

Do you think the government should educate people more on civil defence, particularly in the event of war (even though its highly unlikely) or global pandemic, through public information schemes? Rather than establishing an entirely new centralised Civil Defence force. Even though these topics are taboo and somewhat disturbing for the general public, it could save lives in the event of a national emergency.
Reply 16
Avatar for Surnia
Surnia
20
Original post by Alexty28
Do you think the government should educate people more on civil defence, particularly in the event of war (even though its highly unlikely) or global pandemic, through public information schemes? Rather than establishing an entirely new centralised Civil Defence force. Even though these topics are taboo and somewhat disturbing for the general public, it could save lives in the event of a national emergency.

Educate them on what subjects? The Government would put out information as required , but we're discussing who would do the job and that is those already in certain organisations.
Reply 17
Avatar for Surnia
Surnia
20
Original post by AnonymousNoMore
You never know. Maybe a month training and then push em out to the world.

Who does the training? How do you maintain the skills? Who manages the trained teams? How do you know you will be able to call on a bunch of civvies as required, as opposed to having the manpower already available through specific agencies already?
Original post by Alexty28
Do you think the government should educate people more on civil defence, particularly in the event of war (even though its highly unlikely) or global pandemic, through public information schemes? Rather than establishing an entirely new centralised Civil Defence force. Even though these topics are taboo and somewhat disturbing for the general public, it could save lives in the event of a national emergency.


That's hilarious. We are undegoing a pandemic and you worry about war in the UK?

Have you seen Syria? Educating me and my neighbours in the art of defense is an utter waste of everything in a modern war setting.
Original post by Surnia
Who does the training? How do you maintain the skills? Who manages the trained teams? How do you know you will be able to call on a bunch of civvies as required, as opposed to having the manpower already available through specific agencies already?

It was just an idea not something to be taken too seriously but to answer your questions.
I presume the army would do the training.
The army would manage them or a new unit.
That's why it would be an experiment because you don't know.

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