Downing Street is set to launch a campaign later this year to prepare UK households for emergencies following Sir Keir Starmer's warning that intelligence agencies believe a Russian attack could come within four years. The public will be told to stock up on food and water in case of a surprise assault by Russia under new plans to ready the country for conflict. The announcement comes amid rising fears of a Russian attack on a NATO country and near-constant cyber-attacks on the UK's critical national infrastructure.
UK Government Recommends Oats, Sardines, and Crisps for Emergency Stockpiles
The new British public information campaign will advise people on stockpiling food, medicines, and basic survival tools. Experts recommend long-life items that can be eaten without cooking, including tinned beans, vegetables and fish, rice crackers, and oats that can be soaked. The public is also advised to stock up on treats such as chocolate and crisps to keep spirits up, as well as plenty of water for drinking and washing.
Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, told MPs the Government would launch a "national resilience public awareness campaign" to "inform the public of the small but important steps they can take to be prepared in case of emergencies and disruption." The potential crises for which the public should prepare include a cyber-attack which can "impact access to power, water, phone signal or local shops to get food," he added.
Last year, the EU instructed the public to prepare a 72-hour stockpile, including ID documents in waterproof casing, canned food, bottled water, matches, and a Swiss army knife. Similar plans in Sweden ask citizens to prepare warm clothing and a battery-powered radio for use in case of power outages. In Norway, the public are being advised to stock up on iodine tablets which can be used in the event of a nuclear incident, while German homeowners have been urged to turn their cellars into bunkers.
Darren Jones Announces National Home Defence Exercise for Next Year
Darren Jones announced that the Government would wargame a "hybrid" attack on the UK by a foreign adversary next year. The "national home defence exercise" will see hundreds of civil servants plan their response to a crisis from inside Whitehall. Officials said the campaign would include new guidance to schools and colleges to teach children about how to stay safe in emergencies.
Strategic Defence Review Warns UK Already Under Daily Attack
The announcement comes after warnings in last year's Strategic Defence Review that the UK was "already under daily attack from espionage, cyber threats and information manipulation" by enemy states, including Russia and Iran. The review, commissioned shortly after Labour entered office, warned that Russian leader Vladimir Putin had demonstrated "willingness to use military force, inflict harm on civilians, and threaten the use of nuclear weapons."
Ministers have also updated the National Risk Register, a public document outlining the "reasonable worst-case scenarios" from a range of threats. The latest version of the document includes the threat of foreign interference in the UK's democracy for the first time, plus the risk of cyber-attacks on data infrastructure, water sites, and police systems.
FAQ
What items is the UK government recommending citizens stockpile for emergencies?
The UK government recommends stockpiling long-life items that can be eaten without cooking, including tinned beans, vegetables and fish, rice crackers, oats that can be soaked, chocolate, crisps, and plenty of water for drinking and washing. The public information campaign will also advise people on stockpiling medicines and basic survival tools.
When did Sir Keir Starmer warn about a potential Russian attack on the UK?
Sir Keir Starmer warned that intelligence agencies believe a Russian attack could come within four years. Downing Street is set to launch an emergency preparedness campaign later this year in response to these warnings and rising fears of Russian attacks on NATO countries and ongoing cyber-attacks on UK critical national infrastructure.
