Maintain radio communications during Major Incidents
Manchester Arena Inquiry · Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · Issued 3 November 2022
Source — 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
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- A new multi-agency radio control talk group has been developed, shared with police, fire and ambulance and monitored 24/7, with approximately 700 Airwave tactical advisors across the three services (Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, Cabinet Office, February 2026).
- National guidance on training and testing was revised and launched in August 2024 (Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, Cabinet Office, February 2026).
Response — verbatim from government
●UK Government
The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to implement improvements. The response committed to reviewing interoperability arrangements between emergency services and strengthening joint training and exercising protocols for major incidents.
UK Government · 3 Nov 2022 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 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. Source →
- 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. Source →
- 14 Nov 2025 · Cabinet Office Government published formal Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations dashboard on GOV.UK (14 November 2025) tracking all 149 recommendations with implementation progress updates. View source → Reasonable Progress
- 3 Apr 2025 · UK Parliament Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent 3 April 2025. Creates two tiers: Standard Duty (200-799 capacity) and Enhanced Duty (800+). SIA will be regulator. Not yet in force -- at least 24 months before enforcement (expected April 2027). View source → Reasonable Progress
- 1 Apr 2024 · JESIP 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. View source → Good Progress
- 5 Jun 2023 · National Police Chiefs Council NPCC, Counter Terrorism Policing and College of Policing provided comprehensive updates to Sir John Saunders demonstrating "continued drive to improve collective response to terrorist incidents." View source → Reasonable Progress
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.