Source · National Audit Office

Progress with delivering the Emergency Services Network

Published: 8 Mar 2023 Recommendations: 6 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 6 Department: Home Office

This report describes the Home Office’s progress on delivering the Emergency Services Network programme, and sets out the main risks it faces.

Dept: Home Office Topics: Digital, data and technologyLegacy systemsProgramme deliveryProject and service delivery nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

6 items

6 accepted 5 implemented 1 in progress

Rec	Recommendation	Addressee	Acceptance	Implementation
1	completes the work it has started to revisit the programme?s objectives and assumptions, and to re-articulate the programme?s rationale to demonstrate whether ESN remains the right thing to do given the increasing use of mobile data by users and technology developments; Ref Page 11, paragraph 21, point a · Implemented 30/09/2024	Home Office	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
2	before the end of 2023, establishes a process for continually assessing the risks and investment required to maintain Airwave to better understand how long this network could be used for, and therefore the time it has available to complete ESN Ref Page 11, paragraph 21, point b · Implemented 31/12/2024	Home Office	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
3	improves the programme?s management information, so that it is consistent and timely, and includes metrics as well as leading indicators to help consider progress and identify where action is required Ref Page 11, paragraph 21, point f · Implemented 31/03/2024	Home Office	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
4	continues developing a revised programme plan. This should include realistic time frames that are not driven by an arbitrary date for shutting down Airwave, but which allows sufficient time to complete and test that ESN?s technical architecture works. This should include time and cost estimates that allow for optimism bias and are presented in ranges to reflect uncertainty where appropriate Ref Page 11, paragraph 21, point c · Implemented 31/03/2026	Home Office	Accepted	In progress ✓ NAO
5	uses its experiences from the user services contract to better manage the risks that it needs to avoid, or mitigate, with the new supplier to increase the likelihood of the technology being introduced on time and in line with users? needs; Ref Page 11, paragraph 21, point d · Implemented 31/10/2025	Home Office	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
6	ensures that the new network infrastructure contract has sufficient mechanisms and incentives to establish effective relationships and ensure value for money within this contract period, while supporting a wider strategy for how the Home Office will avoid being locked into one supplier in the future Ref Page 11, paragraph 21, point e · Implemented 31/10/2025	Home Office	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

1 report

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.

14 Jul 2023 Public Accounts C… Sixty-Fourth Report - The Emergency Services Network — 12 recommendations · parliament.uk