Guidance on Major Incident plan review frequency
Manchester Arena Inquiry · Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · Issued 3 November 2022 · Addressed to: College of Policing, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, Home Office, Police Services
Government responseUK Government: Accepted (Nov 2025)
DeliveryCabinet Office says in progress (Feb 2026)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, the College of Policing and the Home Office should issue guidance for all police services on how often operational plans for responding to a Major Incident, including a terrorist incident, should be reviewed, how that review should be conducted, and what rank and experience the officers involved should have.
Manchester Arena Inquiry, Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · 3 Nov 2022 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
The Inquiry recommended issuing guidance to police services on reviewing Major Incident operational plans. The Cabinet Office reported in February 2026 that the three services had signed off Joint Operating Principles (JOPs) Version 3, which is reviewed annually and applies to marauding terrorist attacks, but the department did not mention guidance on review frequency, review conduct, or officer rank and experience for police plans (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The UK Government had accepted the recommendation in full in November 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026.
About this summary
Government response
●UK Government · Accepted · 14 Nov 2025
Accepted in full
Response document: Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations (GOV.UK page linking to the Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard)
Delivery
●Cabinet Office says in progress · 27 Feb 2026
Following the publication of the report the Joint Operating Principles known as ''JOPs'' Version 3 has been produced and signed off by the tri-services. This document contains additional principles, which can be applied when responding to a Marauding Terrorist Attack. These Joint Operating Principles (JOPs) have been developed from the operational experience of the three services, as well as learning taken from attacks, exercises and wider national learning. The JOP's covers the following areas:- IDENTIFICATION, MOBILISATION, COMMUNICATION, SCENE ASSESSMENT, SHARED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND JOINT UNDERSTANDING OF RISK, CASUALTY MANAGEMENT, FIRE AND HAZARDS MANAGEMENT, DE-BRIEFING AND LESSONS IDENTIFIED This was a large piece of work which captured a number of recommendations from the Manchester Arena Inquiry. The JOPS is reviewed on an annual basis to determine its value, additional learning and to ensure it is still relevant.
Earlier statements on delivery (0)
●Cabinet Office · 14 Nov 2025
Following the publication of the report the Joint Operating Principles known as ''JOPs'' Version 3 has been produced and signed off by the tri-services. This document contains additional principles, which can be applied when responding to a Marauding Terrorist Attack. These Joint Operating Principles (JOPs) have been developed from the operational experience of the three services, as well as learning taken from attacks, exercises and wider national learning. The JOP's covers the following areas:- IDENTIFICATION, MOBILISATION, COMMUNICATION, SCENE ASSESSMENT, SHARED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND JOINT UNDERSTANDING OF RISK, CASUALTY MANAGEMENT, FIRE AND HAZARDS MANAGEMENT, DE-BRIEFING AND LESSONS IDENTIFIED This was a large piece of work which captured a number of recommendations from the Manchester Arena Inquiry. The JOPS is reviewed on an annual basis to determine its value, additional learning and to ensure it is still relevant.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Published evidence
●JESIP · 1 Apr 2024
JESIP Joint Doctrine updated to v3.1 (April 2024) following inquiry findings on interoperability failures. Operation Plato reformed to cover all terrorist attack types, not just firearms. Emphasis extended beyond command-level to frontline responders.
JESIP Joint Doctrine Version 3.1, April 2024View source →
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The recommendation and the government responses are verbatim from primary documents. Delivery statements and other bodies' findings are shown in their own words, each with its source. The summary is written by this site and labelled as such. The Index does not paraphrase sources or characterise intent; it records what has been published.