The Civil Contingencies Act (2004) is the overarching legislation for emergency planning, response and recovery in the United Kingdom. It places key duties on the emergency services, local authorities, government agencies and key responding organisations such as utility providers and transport operators, with the aim of extending our abilities to meet new challenges as well as well-known and recurrent threats.

In summary these duties are:

• Assess the risk of emergencies and use this to inform contingency planning
• Conduct emergency planning activities
• Make Business Continuity Management arrangements
• Make information available to the public and in the event of an emergency, warn, inform and advise
• Share information with other local responders to enhance co-ordination
• Co-operate with other local responders to enhance co-ordination and efficiency
• Provide advice and assistance to businesses and voluntary organisations about Business Continuity Management (local authorities only).

For more information see the National Guidance published by the Cabinet Office.