The Admiral’s Viewpoint – entitled ‘The National Security Debate: An Insight’ – shows that changes to the national security architecture made post-9/11 are likely to be superseded with the publication of the new National Security Strategy.
“National security is complex and wide-ranging,” said Forbes. “Globalisation means that new critical, inter-connecting risks have emerged. Threats no longer emanate from nation states exclusively, but from a range of non-state actors, formless in their design and practice. A compartmentalised approach to national security is no longer appropriate.”
The research identifies four major categories of risks to national security stability: globalisation, climate change, deepening ideological divisions and efficiency drives.
Under the previous Prime Minister, changes were made to the way in which Government managed security in response to these risks. However, the pre-existing security machinery was retained, reordered in places and partially reshaped in others.
Future prosperity depends on national security
Before becoming Prime Minister, Gordon Brown had already indicated that the UK’s future prosperity depends on national security, and that responsibility for national security should therefore be addressed by all Government departments – not just by one or two.
The National Security Strategy is likely to better co-ordinate national security activity between domestic, defence and overseas affairs by bringing defence policy and diplomacy directly into a national security agenda driven from Downing Street. A new National Security Committee with its own budget is likely to be chaired by the Prime Minister. However, the research shows that Government departments should be more integrated to tackle the threats at hand.
“The changes the National Security Strategy could offer represent a significant step in the development of a more integrated approach to national security,” continued Admiral Sir Ian Forbes. “Time will tell as to whether the level of integration achieved downstream of the National Security Strategy’s implementation is up to the task.”
With much of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure being held by the private sector, there is certainly a clear role for it in a National Security Strategy. Currently, the departmentalised approach to national security means that the private sector’s involvement is also compartmentalised. That being the case, there is genuine scope for duplication and the ineffective use of funds.
“The private sector is searching for a credible engagement model, particularly in those areas where its interest is as much about commercialism as it is about security.”
Networked approach is demanded
Where Government departments are responsible for intelligence and counter-terrorism, there will be a need for a networked approach as the National Security Strategy beds down. There has never been a stronger case for greater public/private sector co-operation in security issues.
For a copy of ‘The National Security Debate: An Insight’ please contact Leigh Griffin on (tel) 020 7393 3370 or send an e-mail to: [email protected]
