Overview
- The Cabinet Office published an updated National Risk Register on Tuesday, July 14, adding seven new risks that include cyber-attacks on data centres, water systems and police networks, a 'digital resilience failure' and foreign interference in UK democracy.
- Ministers announced a national resilience public-awareness campaign for later in 2026, a formal consultation to give local and regional mayors clearer emergency roles under the Civil Contingencies Act, and plans to update classified crisis plans known as the 'War Books'.
- The Home Defence Programme confirmed Operation ALBISTON SHADOW, a multi-day national exercise in 2027, will test government and public-sector readiness for hybrid attacks and will run alongside NATO activity.
- Specific public guidance is not yet published, though outlets report the campaign will advise households to hold basic supplies such as food and water and follow existing prepare.gov.uk guidance on emergency kits and staying informed.
- The register draws on lessons from the July 2024 CrowdStrike outage and warns that attacks on water or data infrastructure could cause prolonged disruption and casualties, while removal of Russian gas disruption from the list reflects reduced UK reliance on that supply.