Maintain radio communications during Major Incidents
Manchester Arena Inquiry · Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · Issued 3 November 2022
Government responseUK Government: Accepted (Nov 2025)
DeliveryCabinet Office says in progress (Feb 2026)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
The emergency services should prepare, train and exercise for how they will maintain effective radio communications between emergency responders on the ground, commanders and control rooms, during the response to a Major Incident.
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 emergency services prepare, train, and exercise to maintain major incident radio communications. The Cabinet Office reported in February 2026 that a multi-agency radio control talk group had been established with regular tri service testing and training, alongside roughly 700 tactical advisers (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It noted that national guidance was updated in August 2024, while further training and testing guidance was currently being revised (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The department added that work connects to the Home Office led Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) to prepare emergency personnel for transitioning to a new commercial network (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Earlier, the UK Government 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
Post the attack a new multi-agency radio control talk group was developed, which is shared with police, fire and ambulance and monitored 24/7 in control rooms. There are established tri service testing and training arrangements for this talk group. In addition, there is a 'all Forces Police Airwave hailing channel' enabling forces to easily call up and again this is tested regularly. In relation to improving the use of airwave tactical advisors, there are now approximately 700 across the 3 services. National guidance for services on training and testing has been revised and launched in August 2024, taking into account these recommendations to support the requirements around interoperability. This work is also linked closely with the Home Office led Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) that seeks to prepare over 300k emergency workers to transition from the current radio system to a new commercial network. Multi-Agency Partners Recommendation Update: Improving multi-agency communications - Post the attack a new multi-agency radio control talkgroup was developed, which is shared with police, fire and ambulance and monitored 24/7 in control rooms. There is a tri service testing and training arrangements for this talkgroup. In addition, there is a ‘all Forces Police Airwave hailing channel’ enabling forces to easily call up and again this is tested regulary. In relation to improving the use of airwave tactical advisors, there are now approximately 700 across the 3 services. Further related guidance for services on training and testing is also currently being revised taking into account these recommendations to support the requirements around interoperability. This work is also linked closely with the Home Office led Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) that seeks to prepare over 300k emergency workers to transition from the current radio system to a new commercial network.
Earlier statements on delivery (0)
●Cabinet Office · 14 Nov 2025
Post the attack a new multi-agency radio control talk group was developed, which is shared with police, fire and ambulance and monitored 24/7 in control rooms. There are established tri service testing and training arrangements for this talk group. In addition, there is a 'all Forces Police Airwave hailing channel' enabling forces to easily call up and again this is tested regularly. In relation to improving the use of airwave tactical advisors, there are now approximately 700 across the 3 services. National guidance for services on training and testing has been revised and launched in August 2024, taking into account these recommendations to support the requirements around interoperability. This work is also linked closely with the Home Office led Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) that seeks to prepare over 300k emergency workers to transition from the current radio system to a new commercial network. Multi-Agency Partners Recommendation Update: Improving multi-agency communications - Post the attack a new multi-agency radio control talkgroup was developed, which is shared with police, fire and ambulance and monitored 24/7 in control rooms. There is a tri service testing and training arrangements for this talkgroup. In addition, there is a ‘all Forces Police Airwave hailing channel’ enabling forces to easily call up and again this is tested regulary. In relation to improving the use of airwave tactical advisors, there are now approximately 700 across the 3 services. Further related guidance for services on training and testing is also currently being revised taking into account these recommendations to support the requirements around interoperability. This work is also linked closely with the Home Office led Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) that seeks to prepare over 300k emergency workers to transition from the current radio system to a new commercial network.
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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