Crisis Communications

JOHN TOKER Director of Communications for Security and Intelligence

Media pressure.........what to expect.......London Bombings 2005

Within first 10 days Metropolitan Police Press Bureau dealt with 8,000 media enquiries

Over 200 press statements issued between 7/7 – 1/8 27 updates on 7/7 alone 500 e-mails sent out to the media 25 press conferences/briefings Almost 400 one-to-one interviews 1.5million hits on the MPS Internet site on 7/7 45 press/publicity officers deployed

IN ADVANCE OF ANY CRISIS

EXERCISES.......help to develop TEAM WORKING......helps to create CONFIDENCE and EXPERIENCE...help to develop LEADERSHIP KEY ROLES KEY TASKS........help to expose GAPS AND VULNERABILITIES.........leads to COMPREHENSIVE CHECK LISTS OF ACTIONS

WHEN THE CRISIS HAPPENS.....A PRESS OFFICE SHOULD BE

The FOCAL POINT for all internal and external communications

The “GO TO” point of contact for the media The HOLDER of the Core Script and Key Messages The UPDATER of website/twitter/press notices The MONITOR of what is happening in the media

THE HEAD OF PRESS SHOULD BE

The LINK between Press Office and Departmental Officials The TRUSTED VOICE on all media handling issues AWARE of the developing communication needs CHALLENGING over potential conflicts between

Strategy/Policy/Communications

Government News Co-ordination Centre. Role In a Crisis

Operates as the cross Government Press Office for the incident.

Co-ordinates all requests for Ministerial interviews and visits. Can set up recorded Public Information

Lines/websites/emergency text pages Produces daily “Top Lines Brief” for messages and briefing

across Government.

NEWS CO-ORDINATION CENTRE – LONDON BOMBINGS

Staffed from 1015 on 7/7 NCC activated by 1100 Fully operational as a Press Office by 1400 Worked 24/7 for 8 days Over 100 staff brought in from all areas of Government

communications

COBR Communications

Shared Core Script

Top Lines Brief - Containing Latest Information, Emergency Number, Website Details, Ministerial Comments

COBR/NCC

Core ScriptTop Lines

GovtDepartments

&Stakeholders

RICU

VOICES IN A CRISIS.......WHY WE NEED A CORE SCRIPT

PRIME MINISTER DEFENCE SECRETARY MILITARY SENIOR COMMAND HOME SCECRETARY FOREIGN SECRETARY ATTORNEY GENERAL COMMUNITIES SECRETARY OTHER MINISTERS CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE SECURITY AGENCIES WELL MEANING “OTHERS”

Working with the Media (a checklist)

Statements Regular press conferences One to one interviews with designated spokespeople Pooled media facilities Release of images/pictures E-mail updates Website Internal communication Off record briefings Guidance Voluntary news blackout Developing trust and understanding

Language – Key Messages

• Terrorism is a real and serious threat to us all.

• Terrorists are criminals and murderers; they attack

the values that we all share.

• We all need to work together to tackle the terrorist

challenge.

Key Lessons

Importance of building networks in advance. Rapid response essential- our first alert system very

valuable. Central co-ordination arrangements cross Government

essential. Benefits of working (and exercising) with the media – vital for

getting our message out quickly. Greater use by us of the Internet.

BASIC RULES

Keep it Truthful (If you Don't Know then Don't Guess) Keep it Simple (Don’t get involved in predicting outcomes) Keep it Short Keep it Updated

Contact Information

JOHN TOKER Director of Communications for Security and Intelligence

22 WhitehallLondonSW1A 2WH

john.toker@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

TEL: 020 7276 0424MOB: 07860 678864