Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms
Encyclopedia
Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBR) is a term used to describe the formation of a crisis response committee, coordinating the actions of bodies within the government of the United Kingdom in response to instances of national or regional crisis, or during events abroad with major implications for the UK
. The constitution of a COBR will depend on the nature of the incident but it is usually chaired by the Prime Minister or another senior minister, with other key ministers as appropriate, and representatives of relevant external organizations such as the Association of Chief Police Officers
and the Local Government Association
.
COBR meetings are generally held in one of the Cabinet Office buildings in Whitehall
, London
. Each is a secure room fitted with video and audio links able to display all intelligence information relevant to the situation under discussion. Unlike the equivalent U.S. facility, the White House Situation Room
, it is only staffed during each period of use. Although it was constructed as a bunker it is actually on the first floor of the building and not below ground.
It is often incorrectly referred to as COBRA or Cobra by the media, this is thought to relate to the acronym for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A as the meetings were usually held in Conference Room A at the Cabinet Office main building at 70 Whitehall, this abbreviation is no longer used within the Cabinet Office
. Official papers bear a logo based on that of the Cabinet Office
with the addition of the words "Briefing Rooms". In 2009, former senior police officer Andy Hayman
, who sat on the committee after the 7 July 2005 London bombings
and at other intervals from 2005–2007, was highly critical of its workings in his book The Terrorist Hunters
.
A single photo of COBR was released in 2010 in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
In the Gold – silver – bronze command structure COBR is sometimes known as the Platinum Command.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The constitution of a COBR will depend on the nature of the incident but it is usually chaired by the Prime Minister or another senior minister, with other key ministers as appropriate, and representatives of relevant external organizations such as the Association of Chief Police Officers
Association of Chief Police Officers
The Association of Chief Police Officers , established in 1948, is a private limited company that leads the development of policing practice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.ACPO provides a forum for chief police officers to share ideas and coordinates the strategic...
and the Local Government Association
Local Government Association
The Local Government Association is a voluntary lobbying organisation acting as the voice of the local government sector in England and Wales, which seeks to be an authoritative and effective advocate on its behalf....
.
COBR meetings are generally held in one of the Cabinet Office buildings in Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Each is a secure room fitted with video and audio links able to display all intelligence information relevant to the situation under discussion. Unlike the equivalent U.S. facility, the White House Situation Room
White House Situation Room
The White House Situation Room is a conference room and intelligence management center in the basement of the West Wing of the White House. It is run by the National Security Council staff for the use of the President of the United States and his advisors to monitor and deal...
, it is only staffed during each period of use. Although it was constructed as a bunker it is actually on the first floor of the building and not below ground.
It is often incorrectly referred to as COBRA or Cobra by the media, this is thought to relate to the acronym for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A as the meetings were usually held in Conference Room A at the Cabinet Office main building at 70 Whitehall, this abbreviation is no longer used within the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
. Official papers bear a logo based on that of the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
with the addition of the words "Briefing Rooms". In 2009, former senior police officer Andy Hayman
Andy Hayman
Andrew Christopher "Andy" Hayman, CBE, QPM is a retired British police officer and author of The Terrorist Hunters. Hayman held the rank of Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary and Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations at London's Metropolitan Police, the highest ranking officer...
, who sat on the committee after the 7 July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
and at other intervals from 2005–2007, was highly critical of its workings in his book The Terrorist Hunters
The Terrorist Hunters
The Terrorist Hunters is a controversial non-fiction book by former senior police officer Andy Hayman, co-written by Margaret Gilmore, about Hayman's role as head of the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Operations Division. The British Attorney General, Baroness Scotland QC, sought, and initially...
.
A single photo of COBR was released in 2010 in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
In the Gold – silver – bronze command structure COBR is sometimes known as the Platinum Command.