Fundamentals of Risk Management

Risk assurance
430
government report on national security
One of the biggest steps forward in risk communication in recent times has been the 
willingness of governments to be more open about security threats. Many governments 
undertake a national security threat analysis and publish the results. For example, 
the UK government published in 2011 a document entitled the National Security 
Strategy of the United Kingdom. This publication gives details of the threats to na-
tional security faced by the UK. More recently, the UK Cabinet Office published the 
National Risk Register.
Within this analysis, there is no mention of the objectives or key dependencies
of the UK or the UK government. However, the threat analysis is robust and detailed. 
The main threat categories identified in the document are as follows:
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natural events, including weather, coastal and river flooding and human or 
animal disease;
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major accidents, including industrial and transport;
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malicious attacks on crowded places, infrastructure, transport and electronic 
infrastructure (including nuclear or non-conventional attack).
The document provides detailed analysis of the various threats and the measures 
that are in place to minimize these threats. The report also discusses the drivers that 
are changing the risk profile of nations. These drivers include:
TAbLE 
36.3
Government risk-reporting principles
Openness and transparency
Government will be open and transparent about its understanding of the nature of 
risks to the public and about the process it is following in handling them.
involvement
Government will seek wide involvement of those concerned in the decision 
process.
Proportionality
Government will act proportionately and consistently in dealing with risks to the 
public.