Civil Contingencies Act 2004

Gov.uk guidance on the responsibilities of responder agencies says the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, with its accompanying non-legislative measures, "delivers a single framework for civil protection in the UK". The Act has two substantive parts: local arrangements for civil protection in Part 1, and emergency powers in Part 2.

Part 1 defines an emergency in section 1 and, with the Contingency Planning Regulations 2005 and the statutory guidance Emergency Preparedness, sets out who does what at the local level. It divides local responders into two categories listed in Schedule 1. Category 1 responders carry the full set of duties in section 2: to assess risk, maintain plans, publish assessments and plans, and warn, inform and advise the public. Section 4 adds a duty on local authorities to advise and assist business and voluntary organisations on continuing their activities in an emergency. Category 2 responders co-operate and share information. The guidance says the bulk of Part 1 came into force in November 2005.

Part 2 updated the Emergency Powers Act 1920. It allows temporary emergency regulations for the most serious emergencies, subject to safeguards, and was brought into force in December 2004. The guidance says local planning should not assume that emergency powers will be made available.