![](https://emergencyservicestimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ESS-Button-resized.png")
We are living in a world that is increasingly disrupted, more fragmented and globally uncertain. The true long-term implications for society post-COVID-19 are still emerging, we are wrestling with global environmental challenges, carefully watching regional conflicts that risk escalation and on a more localised, national level, frustrated at the true state of ‘health’ of UK plc.
We are living in a world that is increasingly digital, online, always-on and information overloaded. Bombarded by social media, concerned by fake news and in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we are uncertain about what is true and what is fact online. Organised crime is more online and organised than ever before, and covert nation state activity is attempting to unsettle the very basis of our democracy and societal fabric.
We are living in a world that has never been more distracted; fed by 24-hour news, real-time updates, flooded with communications, notices and alerts across multiple channels including social media, text-message, email, web portals, App notifications, TV and Radio.
Navigating our daily lives to work, on the school run, to get away on holiday can be confused by ‘likes’, ‘tweets’ and ‘retweets’ and the latest scrolling distraction of cute internet kittens or must-see social post. And when it really matters, at a time of real need, do we really know where to go, which channel, what website, which App, what social feed, for information we can trust, or who to listen to, to make informed decisions, guide us through our own worlds every day and when it really matters?
In such a world, the smooth running of society will in part be a function of the resilience of its members. Better informed people, generally make better decisions. Whether it be the terrifying events of the London bus bombings in 2005, the tragic events at the Manchester arena of 2017, the Salisbury Poisonings of 2018, the global pandemic of 2019, or the recent spate of blade related attacks in our schools and on our streets in 2024, the unthinkable is in danger of becoming the routine. Our collective response to such events, can often be like our current world; disrupted, fragmented and uncertain.
A common theme emerging from every incident has been the need to communicate quickly, efficiently and impart information thoughtfully, factually, and consistently to those impacted by an incident, those in the area of the incident to avoid personal danger, and those who hear about the incident and are concerned for friends, relatives and loved ones.
Is now the right time to rethink our approach to local, regional, national, international, and societal resilience?
Is there a better, more consistent way to achieve the ‘warning and informing’ of the public at large? Whether it be official notice of an impending storm, early warning of floods, notice of an incident on the motorway network on your way home or informing you of civil protests blocking streets, is there a better way to engage the UK’s citizens consistently and timely, so that over time a greater respect and trust is established between government and citizens, between emergency and essential services and the public, and as we anticipate Martyn’s Law, between event, venue, and guest.
Human behaviours are not changed overnight, micro nudges from information sources can influence and shape people’s behaviours and responses, so perhaps now is the right time to start in a more consistent, joined up way.
Therefore, is it time to think about an online platform with national (and international) reach? A platform to facilitate change, to enable these nudges, increase resilience and give the UKs citizens greater access to trusted information sources, more consistent and timely engagement with authoritative organisations and services, and a national capability to mitigate incidents where possible, or quickly, efficiently and collaboratively co-ordinate the response when necessary.
To give resilience forums, first responders, and event organisers the tools, processes, and data to collaborate and co-ordinate their activities and distribute their communications to the public and necessary support services at a national scale. With such a capability, would it be possible to increase the UK’s collective resilience, improve the publics’ confidence and overall, whether at home or abroad, contribute to a greater sense that everyone is safe?
To see how such a platform might work for the UK, and your role within it, get in touch with the team at IsEveryoneSafe.
This article includes contribution from IsEveryoneSafe Co-founder Robbie Macintosh, who is who is an MSc. Counter Terrorism and PhD, Crisis & Risk Management, having worked across several humanitarian events.
The industry will once again be gathering at the NEC, Birmingham for The Emergency Services Show, co located with The Emergency Tech Show on 18-19 September, check out the full exhibitor list here. You can find IsEveryoneSafe at the Tech Launchpad, Hall 4, stand A104.
