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Home Secretary Priti Patel today (Thursday 8 August) visited 2 policing hubs that are at the heart of law enforcement’s preparation for the UK’s exit from the European Union on 31 October.
The International Crime and Coordination Centre (ICCC) went live in February 2019 and has been supported by Home Office funding. It is acting as a centre of expertise to support police forces in making a smooth transition to non-EU law enforcement mechanisms in the event of a no deal.
The Home Office funded the establishment of the ICCC in 2018/2019 and confirmed that the department will continue to resource the unit in 2019/2020.
The Home Secretary was briefed by police leaders on the ICCC’s role and assessment of the ongoing cooperation between UK and EU law enforcement as well as how UK policing is maintaining readiness for Brexit.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said:
We will be leaving the European Union on 31 October and that is why I am ensuring our law enforcement agencies are ready.
Our police are the pride of Britain and I’m encouraged to see that they are well prepared to keep fighting crime and protecting the public once we leave.
We will continue to work with police forces to ensure they get the support they need for Brexit and beyond.
The Home Secretary also visited the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) and witnessed a demonstration of how the unit will respond to Brexit on 31 October.
The NPoCC was set up in 2013 and coordinates the deployment of police officers and staff across the UK during major events and operations.
These letters tell you what to do if there is a no-deal Brexit. This page will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.
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The letters ask the adult social care system to ensure business continuity plans are in place so local areas are able to manage the possible implications of Brexit.
They include plans relating to:
The letters were published alongside the Brexit operational readiness guidance for the health and social care system with a covering letter from Sir Chris Wormald.
This letter tells you what to do if there is a no-deal Brexit. This page will be updated if anything changes, including if a deal is agreed.
Sign up for email alerts to get the latest information.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock has written to all NHS organisations, GPs, community pharmacies and other service providers.
The letter sets out what the health and care system needs to consider in the period leading up to March 2019, including:
The pioneering project sees HS2 Ltd partner with high-tech S.M.E., PAULEY; the National College for High Speed Rail; and Inventya. Together they will work with Old Oak Common station designers, specialist engineers WSP, to develop augmented reality (AR) training for the station’s future staff.
HS2 Ltd’s Stations Director, Mike Luddy, said:
From its earliest days Old Oak Common will be one of the UK’s busiest and best-connected stations. Serving both HS2 and the Elizabeth line (Crossrail) it is designed to handle around 275,000 passengers every day. To accommodate that number of people in a pleasant, safe and efficient environment, it’s crucial that staff know the station’s workings in detail.
The challenge is that Old Oak Common station hasn’t been built yet. So to train the station’s entirely new workforce with the skills and knowledge they will need we must innovate.
Through this project, which is supported by Innovate UK and the DfT, we’re harnessing the power of digital technology to build Old Oak Common in augmented reality.
Future staff entering an augmented reality world will be trained in delivering a great customer experience, station maintenance and safety so they can develop the skills to efficiently manage the station before ever setting foot in it.
The AR training will have spin-off benefits for developing Old Oak Common station itself. Trainees can provide feedback to its designers on their experience of running the super hub, so plans can be honed before it is built and help avoid making later and costly changes to the building itself.
PAULEY’s founder and managing director, Philip Pauley, said:
We’re only starting to harness the power of augmented reality. Few people really get what it is and what it can do. The way you might want to think about it is like that famous Star Wars scene where R2-D2 projects a 3D image of Princess Leia. That’s what AR is, except for now it’s with the addition of a high tech visor through which to see it.
The technology we’re bringing to HS2 enables the wearer to see Old Oak Common station in minute detail. It unlocks huge opportunities to explore, test and refine a digital replica of the station years before the passengers arrive.
WSP Technical Director John Harding, said:
This technology will enable us to future proof Old Oak Common station design. In future it can be used at other stations not just for training but for all staff following a refurbishment or upgrade.
National College for High Speed Rail’s CEO, Clair Mowbray, said:
The National College for High Speed Rail is delighted to be part of this collaborative project, which will support the development of training programmes for train station staff using the latest interactive technologies.
Inventya Project Manager, Andrew Kent, said:
Through the use of immersive technology, their research is set to improve the user experience of future train travellers, and we’re excited to be part of the journey.