Home Office’s response to terrorist attacks

• Video and Audio: Evidence session on Home Office response to terrorist attacks
• Home Affairs Committee

The Committee hears evidence from:

• Lord West of Spithead, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Security and Counter-Terrorism, at 10.45am
• John Reid MP, Home Secretary from May 2006 to June 2007, at approximately 11.20am
• DCC Maragaret Wood, Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Lead on Terrorism and Allied Matters, at approximately 11.40am

Chairman of the Committee, Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, said:

"Following on from our inquiry into Project Contest: The Government's Counter-Terrorism Strategy, we will now be scrutinising how the Home Office reacts to a terrorist attack and coordinates an immediate response. This will include investigating the effectiveness of "COBRA" Committees and studying the legal tools available to police and prosecutors.

"This session will provide the Committee with an overview of the current situation both from the perspective of the Government and the police and also allow us to discover, from a former Home Secretary how the Home Office reacts in the event of an emergency."

At approximately 12pm the Home Affairs Committee also hears evidence from Sir Hugh Orde, the new President of Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

Chairman of the Committee, Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, said:

"I welcome the opportunity to take evidence from Sir Hugh Orde, the new President of ACPO on his perceptions of the many challenges facing the police service, in particular efficiency savings and the likelihood of future spending cuts."