Part two: Emerging risks, pressure points and what needs to change

In part one of this interview, Alex Woodman, Chief Fire Officer, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service reflected on preparedness and how Local Resilience Forums operate under pressure, highlighting the importance of culture, coordination and collective responsibility.

In this second part, he looks ahead to the challenges the system faces as risks evolve, from overlapping emergencies and regulatory change to strained resources and shares what needs to change to ensure communities are protected when it matters most.

Where the system is under strain

“We’re operating in a very busy and tired system,” he says. “Public sector demand is higher than it was ten years ago, and all of this sits against real financial pressure.”

Preparedness, he notes, is often treated like insurance. “It’s something people don’t want to invest in until the moment they really need it. When budgets are tight, there’s a temptation to cut back on planning, exercising or capability that hasn’t been used recently.”

The risk, Woodman warns, is that short-term savings quickly become long-term costs when something goes wrong.

At the same time, many partners are undergoing significant change. “The NHS is restructuring, local government is dealing with reform and devolution, and policing and fire governance are evolving. All of that absorbs leadership time and attention.”

Add geopolitical uncertainty and a more anxious global context, and sustaining preparedness becomes increasingly difficult.

Preparedness beyond blue light services

Modern incidents quickly extend beyond emergency responders. Loss of utilities, mass evacuation or major crime scenes can involve businesses, voluntary organisations and community leaders.

“The challenge is making sure the right people are around the table before a crisis happens,” Woodman says. “If those relationships aren’t already established, you lose time when it matters most.”

He stresses the importance of strong LRF leadership and diversity of voice. “Preparedness should be rooted in the lived experience of the community – asking what it feels like to be on the receiving end of a crisis.”

That principle also applies to new responsibilities introduced through Martyn’s Law. “It’s about understanding the intent, not just the paperwork,” he says. “Preparedness works best when everyone understands their role, challenges assumptions and works as a team.”

Technology, data and decision-making

While technology and data can support preparedness, Woodman believes culture remains the deciding factor.

“Good information supports prioritisation and decision-making,” he explains. “But we still struggle with information sharing. I would rather be criticised for trying to help than for waiting while bureaucracy gets in the way.”

When hierarchy is stripped away and victims, survivors and the bereaved are kept at the centre of decisions, technology becomes an enabler rather than a barrier.

Why these conversations matter now

Looking across public inquiries over the past 25 years, Woodman sees familiar themes repeated: slow or unclear leadership, communication breakdowns, poor coordination and lessons identified but not embedded.

“The Emergency Services Show provides space to step away from day-to-day pressures and challenge some uncomfortable assumptions about preparedness.

“It’s an opportunity to reflect honestly on whether leadership and decision-making structures would stand up under intense pressure, how robust communication really is across agencies, and whether the right people would be around the table in those first critical hours.”

For Woodman, preparedness is not owned by one organisation or one role. “Everyone working in this space, regardless of seniority, should feel able to question, challenge and learn,” he says. “The Emergency Services Show is an opportunity to reflect honestly on whether we’ve truly learned from past incidents – and whether we’re ready to deliver for communities when they need us most.”

To read similar articles, check our our Emerging Threats and Resilience section.

Join us on 16–17 September at the NEC, Birmingham for The Emergency Services Show, co-located with The Emergency Tech Show.