Page 2195 - Week 06 - Thursday, 6 June 2019
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In London it was clear that a crucial focus of the emergency services in that city is on counterterrorism, both protecting the community and being able to respond in the event of evil striking. For London, unfortunately, this is not a new challenge. Having been at the centre of reprisals from the IRA years ago, they are now faced with a modern evil that seeks to undermine democracy. In the past 15 years Londoners have been subjected to some horrific attacks, from the bombings of the underground in 2005 to the series of attacks in 2017 that targeted the foundation of our parliamentary system, Westminster, and everyday life in London, the Borough Markets and bridges that connect the city over the river Thames. We also cannot forget the callous attack on worshippers at the Finsbury Park mosque.
Despite these tragedies, it is clear that Londoners are resilient. This resilience is not just from the measures taken by the police and security services but also from steps taken by councils and the government to prepare Londoners and implement protective measures.
As a capital city, we have much to learn from London, but our visit also showed us that Canberra has much to offer as well. The structure of our emergency response, guided by the Emergencies Act 2004, provides a strong framework for collaboration and response across government. The Emergency Services Agency Commissioner and ACT chief police officers over the years have sought to develop responses in a whole-of-government effort.
Under the crowded places strategy, our agencies are also strengthening their engagement with the non-government sector in helping to build preparedness but also improve awareness and planning for emergencies. This includes work by the ACT State Emergency Service, the Community Services Directorate and the security and emergency management branch within JACS.
However, there is much to learn from what is occurring in London. This includes implementation of the Sendai framework, endorsed by the UN General Assembly. The Sendai framework recognises that helping reduce the risk of disasters and building resilience is a shared responsibility that needs to include non-government and business sectors. I was pleased to be able to sit down with the Deputy Mayor for Fire and Resilience and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, of the Greater London Authority, to discuss the London resilience partnership strategy and share insights from the territory.
Our discussions also included broader approaches to fire preparedness, crime prevention and the community engagement initiatives being undertaken across London. The latter includes a local neighbourhood policing model that incorporates staff from the London Metropolitan Police working with individuals from local wards.
Engaging the public is something that the City of London Police have also been pioneering. Recognising the enormous specialist skill within the square mile of the heart of London, the City of London Police have been able to capitalise on the corporate social responsibility policies of firms by enlisting specialists in accounting, finance law and other fields as special constables for specific purposes, including
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