Example | Reasons | Notes |
Closure of schools, colleges and universities. |
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Could be problematic in certain areas, especially in garrison and naval towns, or during the examination season. |
Hospitals cleared | Make room for casualties from the front line and allow reservists* mobilise. | Hospitals, the fire brigade and other emergency services could be overstretched after attack, if they still existed. Fewer medical staff due to mobilisation. |
Motorways and other major roads, plus railways closed to civilian to traffic. | Facilitate movement of troops. food, fuel, ammunition, weapons and other essential supplies. | Motorways and rail network could have people trying to get away from target areas. Some railway lines, depots, junctions and roads could be specific targets. |
Normal television and radio programmes suspended (or programmes cancelled, changed or interrupted). E.g. weather forecasts are suspended. All broadcasting would come under the Wartime Broadcasting Service. All local and commercial stations suspended. | To warn of attack, give official information and free up labour for war effort. Protect and Survive information films might be broadcast. In the case of weather forecasts this could also be to prevent spies and terrorists getting information on when to attack. | Could be detrimental to morale if a popular show were pulled. Protect & Survive and other public information films could backfire and cause people to switch off official broadcasts. The Government also has powers to take control of the BBC in an emergency under the BBC Charter and the Broadcasting Act 1980. |
Non-essential telephone lines disconnected, the Government Telephone Preference Scheme activated. Cellular telephone networks shut down. | Increased demand from government and other agencies overwhelm network. | Could be unpopular with public because of people losing business, or not being able to contact relatives. |
Known and potential subversives interned without charge or trial. Some civil rights suspended as a result of passing of an Emergency Powers Act. | To prevent sabotage, mutiny and allow prosecution of the war. The KGB trained agents in the UK in sabotage, and distributed literature for this purpose in the 1950s. | Could be used to crack down on civil liberties and stifle dissent in a dictatorship. Civil liberties groups would be very critical of such a decision, as it would stifle opposition. This legislation is already pre-drafted in three stages and could be imposed by an Order in Council, without Parliament's consent. |
Restrictions on the use of electricity for advertising and display. Government orders sports venues, theatres, art galleries, museums and certain other premises closed. | Reduced detection by enemy bombers, reducing targeting opportunities. Could also be done to provide electricity for the war effort. This would also reduce civilian casualties and provide emergency premises for detention camps, field hospitals and other similar purposes. | Many such buildings are already listed in Government and local authority plans. |
Government commandeers commercial and private aircraft, ferries other shipping and the Channel Tunnel. Normal rail services are suspended and trains commandeered, buses and coaches requisitioned. | To get soldiers and equipment to the front line and evacuate families of servicemen. Railways could be used to transport civilian needs as well as heavy artillery and tanks for example. Buses could be used as ambulances and troop carriers. | Will leave passengers stranded and could lead to food shortages. Businesses could lose trade as a result. Ports and airports might be closed to civilian flights or shipping, either as possible targets or due to military aircraft being stationed there. The Railways Act 1976 allows the Secretary of State to take control of railways in a national emergency, including war. |
General mobilisation of armed forces, reservists called up to fight, and civil defence personnel activated. | Absenteeism in many companies and workplaces. Some due to transport issues, others may wish to leave target areas. Conscription to work battalions of mechanics, cargo handlers etc. | Government may impose manpower controls and industrial conscription, though this might be difficult to enforce. Some people may be in reserved occupations, e.g. farmers, government employees or contractors. Others could be assigned to a work detail to help war effort. |
Gas, electricity and water supplies disconnected. Petrol and diesel supplies rationed. |
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Could be a reason for dissent, especially if war came in winter. More likely that petrol stations would be closed by the simple method of taking the keys and throwing the master switch. |
Police leave cancelled. | To enforce emergency laws, guard points from Buckingham Palace down to local petrol stations from sabotage and terrorist attacks, help in the roundup of subversives. | Special constables may be used as well, this could lead to staff shortages and absenteeism. |
Press reporting restrictions imposed, together with postal censorship |
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Foreign journalists could be expelled as possible enemy spies or propogandists. |
Fire appliances and ambulances deployed outside of towns and cities. | To prevent loss of appliances and crews in the event of an attack. | Could leave areas vulnerable to terrorist attack, or in the event of a conventional one, could effectively leave areas with no emergency cover. |
Borders, ports and airports closed to the public. | Airports and ports are potential targets. They might also be commandeered to get the troops to the front line or evacuate foreign nationals. | Refugees arriving in ports could be a cover for special forces to infiltrate. The Republic of Ireland would also have a refugee problem across the land border. |
Noted artworks taken into storage. |
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This would free up buildings for such purposes as feeding stations, detention camps, accommodation for work details, emergency hospitals and the like. |
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