Demos calls for strategic vision on UK plc security

Britain's security needs ahould be met by a national strategic vision co-ordinating the work of all Government departments, according to the latest report from ‘Think Tank’ Demos.

The Demos Report entitled ‘The Case for a National Security Strategy’ argues that the Government is at risk of being overwhelmed by the growth and complexity of challenges to the UK, including terrorism, home-grown unrest, global instability and the international drugs trade.

The reports states: “This is the result of an overly-fragmented approach to security, likely to be deepened if the expected division of the Home Office goes ahead.”

The report argues that the lack of a shared strategic framework for Government departments and security agencies has led to “infighting between departments, mixed messages from politicians and the duplication of resources.”

To counter this, Demos is calling for the Cabinet Office to take responsibility for co-ordinating national security measures across departments and agencies under direct instruction from the Prime Minister of the day.

The report also argues that any national security strategy should articulate a vision of the current and future security environment, prioritise national security initiatives and the allocation of resources and bring together “the plethora” of departmental White Papers concerning national and international security.

“The time has come for a truly seamless, cross-Government approach to national security,” commented Charlie Edwards, author of the report and Demos’ lead security researcher. “All-too-often, the British Government has relied upon individual departments and agencies – as well as occasional good luck – to win the fight, but such a piecemeal approach to what is a hugely important issue can only end in tragedy. Creating a national security strategy will not be an easy task, but it does represent the first step in understanding how the Government should respond to the dynamic security environment of today and of the future.”

The Government should place any strategy before Parliament for debate, and create a new House of Commons Select Committee focusing on national security.