CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY

Issue 15 FEATURE Subscribe for free here: December 2017 WINNING THE STRATEGIC quarterly.blog.gov.uk #CSQuarterly COMMUNICATIONS WAR WITH DAESH

SCIENCE IN EMERGENCIES

ACTIVE CYBER DEFENCE FOR THE UK 2 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

CONTENTS

WINNING THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS Dan Chugg Head of the C-Daesh Coalition Comms Cell 4 WAR WITH DAESH

SCIENCE IN EMERGENCIES Christopher J. M. Whitty, interim Government Chief Scientific 6 Adviser (GCSA), CSA at the Department of Health (and former Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for International Development)

FROM CRIME SCENE TO COURT – Charlie Stansfield, Content Manager, Defence Science and 10 THE SCIENCE OF EXPLOSIVES Technology Laboratory Communications Team

ACTIVE CYBER DEFENCE FOR THE UK Ciaran Martin, Chief Executive, National Cyber Security Centre 14

CIVIL SERVICE TRANSFORMATION John Manzoni, Chief Executive of the Civil Service and Permanent 16 Secretary for the Cabinet Office

THE WHAT WORKS TEAM: SUPPORTING THE Dr Jen Gold, Head, What Works Team, Implementation Unit, 19 RISE OF EXPERIMENTAL GOVERNMENT Cabinet Office

POLICY PROPELLER: TRANSFORMING Ana Costea, Policy Profession Programme Lead, Department for 22 POLICYMAKING IN THE DEPARTMENT Transport (DfT), and Pauline Reeves, Deputy Director for Road User FOR TRANSPORT Licensing Insurance & Safety, DfT, and Policy Fellow, Cambridge University Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP)

THE CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY INTERVIEW: 24 CAMPBELL MCCAFFERTY, GOVERNMENT CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER

Civil Service Quarterly opens CONTACT US EDITORIAL BOARD up the Civil Service to greater [email protected] Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary, collaboration and challenge, Room 140, 70 Whitehall, Department of Health (chair) showcases excellence and invites London, SW1A 2AS discussion. If the Civil Service is to Chris Skidmore, Minister for the Constitution be truly world-leading, it needs to Read the magazine online Alex Aiken, Executive Director, collaborate more, learn from experts and subscribe for free – Government Communications quarterly.blog.gov.uk outside the Civil Service, listen more David Halpern, Chief Executive, to the public and front-line staff EDITORIAL TEAM Behavioural Insights Team and respond to new challenges with Clare Moriarty, Permanent Secretary, Adam Thorndike, Cabinet Office innovation and boldness. Department for Environment, Food [email protected] Any civil servant can write for and Rural Affairs Civil Service Quarterly – contact Simon Holder, Cabinet Office Sir Richard Lambert, Chairman, [email protected] [email protected] Board of Trustees, British Museum Aine Collins, Cabinet Office Cover photo: ©Crown copyright John Pullinger, National Statistician [email protected] and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Thanks to Lily Clayton, Authority Department of Health Sam Beckett, Acting Head, Government Economic Service MEDIA CONTACT Charles Roxburgh, Director General, Lizzie Lambert, Cabinet Office Financial Services, HM Treasury [email protected] Jill Rutter, Programme Director, The GCS Design Centre DESIGN BY DESIGN102 Institute for Government Philip Rycroft, Permanent Secretary, Anna Restrepo, Creative Designer Contact us at: Department for Exiting the European [email protected] Union, and Head of UK Governance Group, www.design102.co.uk Cabinet Office CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 3 Issue 15 – December 2017

EDITORIAL

Civil Service Quarterly 15: Security in government

facility of its kind in the world, • Policy Propeller: transforming but deploying state-of-the-art policy-making in the capability, the FEL has supported Department for Transport investigations into terrorist (DfT) – DfT’s Ana Costea atrocities such as the bombing and Pauline Reeves provide a of Pan Am Flight 103 over progress report on the Policy Lockerbie and, more recently, Propeller scheme and how it the Manchester Arena attack. is meeting the challenge for Ciaran Martin, Chief the department to test its own Executive of the National Cyber thinking and generate fresh Security Centre, considers the policy ideas. Government’s response to what he calls, “the biggest problem The subject of the CSQ Interview, facing the UK in cyberspace which closes this edition, is – the accumulation of high- Campbell McCafferty, the Chris Wormald volume, low-sophistication, Government’s first Chief Security automated attacks from criminals Officer. In responding to a and states”. In Active Cyber question about the major security Defence for the UK, he outlines threats facing the UK, he pinpoints Welcome to the 15th edition of measures in the Active Cyber keeping pace with – and even Civil Service Quarterly (CSQ). Defence programme, launched staying ahead of – the rapid pace which takes as its main theme, in mid-2017, which focus on of change in technology as the security in government, in a protecting the Government and biggest challenge to government variety of aspects. public services from such attacks and the country at large. We lead off with an article by improving the basic level I hope you enjoy this issue. from Dan Chugg, who describes of defences. You can give us your views and the strategic communications comments on the Civil Service operation he set up for Other articles in this edition include: Quarterly blog (https://quarterly. countering Daesh propaganda. • Civil Service transformation – blog.gov.uk/), by email (csq@ This is a crucial part of the work John Manzoni, Chief Executive cabinetoffice.gov.uk), or via of the Global Coalition for the of the Civil Service, looks at the #CSQuarterly on Twitter. If you Defeat of Isis. forces driving profound change would like to submit an idea for a The role of the sciences in and improvement in the UK feature in a future edition, please emergencies is the subject Civil Service and how they are get in touch. of an article by Christopher challenging the organisation to Whitty, in his capacity as interim accelerate towards its goal of Government Chief Scientific becoming the best civil service Adviser. He looks at the science- in the world. based response of the UK • Supporting the rise of Government to four international experimental government and domestic emergencies, from – Dr Jen Gold, Head of the the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone, What Works Team at the to the flooding of the Somerset Cabinet Office, considers the Levels in 2013–14. opportunities for government In From crime scene to court departments to generate – the science of explosives, more of their own evidence Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Charlie Stansfield gives first- on what works to inform Secretary, Department of Health hand insight into the little-known decision-making. And she asks: work of the Forensic Explosives “What if policy teams routinely Laboratory (FEL). The oldest made policy in a fundamentally different way?”.

Let us know what you think by email ([email protected]) or on Twitter #CSQuarterly 4 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

WINNING THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS WAR WITH DAESH

Dan Chugg, former Head, C-Daesh Coalition Comms Cell, describes the work of the unit set up specifically to counter Daesh propaganda.

THE CHALLENGE their operations and had a simple media accounts and used them plan to “weaponise the media”. to share information and specially In the summer of 2014, headlines designed content across the were being made by a terrorist INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE globe in the blink of an eye. group we have come to call Social media companies were Daesh. They were taking over Daesh made the news all over largely unconcerned. large swathes of land in Syria the world with its creatively We had to do something. and Iraq; looting gold and cash gruesome methods of murdering In the first half of 2015, the from banks; and commandeering innocent people, filmed in high- international community started arms and ammunition from the definition, with slick, multi-angle to get its act together. The UK stores of the fleeing Iraqi Security editing. The media wasted no was instrumental in creating a Forces. In part, the secret of time in inadvertently amplifying global coalition, which had five their success as a brand was Daesh’s propaganda by reporting lines of action to defeat Daesh. their success on the ground. and publicising its atrocities. They One of these was strategic They had promised to create gave the murderers nicknames, communications – and the UK a caliphate; stand up for Sunni and created a sense of power was one of three countries jointly Muslims; and impose a strict form and awe around the organisation. leading on this strand of work. of conservative Islam on their They even granted them a However, we weren’t doing territory – and they were doing it. kind of bogus authority and enough to stop Daesh; partly But the other reason for the respectability, and gave credence because our systems were not tremendous growth in their to their aims, by calling them designed for fighting on a virtual global brand – and the reason ‘Islamic State’. These were the battlefield. they were able to attract tens very things that Daesh wanted In September 2015, the then of thousands of people from the public to hear. Prime Minister, David Cameron, around the world to join them – Then, of course, there was announced to the UN General was because they put strategic social media. Daesh Assembly that he would establish communications at the heart of systematically created social a Coalition Communications Cell

Global Coalition graphic for digital channels CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 5 Issue 15 – December 2017

IMPACT

Two years on, Daesh, which was considered a threat to the stability of the whole Middle East, has failed to create a state. It is no longer able to recruit thousands or even hundreds of people to join it each month. And its propaganda is a pale shadow of what it previously was. It has resorted to inspiring low-tech attacks aimed at smaller groups of people. While this creates anxiety among the public, the threat to national security is a good deal less than if Daesh had the resources of an entire state at its disposal. Much of the credit for this failure lies in the military efforts Meeting of the Ministers of the Global Coalition, Washington, DC in Iraq, in particular the incredibly courageous efforts of the Iraqi Security Forces. However, the in London. The aim would be to positive feedback about the value successful end of that battle was undermine Daesh propaganda of this activity, reflected in the undoubtedly hastened and aided and to damage its brand. I was fact that our content appears in by the efforts of communications asked to make this happen. global media, while the prime practitioners in the coalition, To succeed, we had to change ministers of Spain and Australia and particularly in the UK. the global narrative and, in the have used our lines. We undermined Daesh’s narrative, terminology of the profession, In addition, I co-chaired contested the information space contest the information space, international working group and damaged their brand. We rather than ceding it to Daesh. meetings of over 30 coalition did this by making them appear countries every quarter, to less cool, less credible and less THE GLOBAL NARRATIVE encourage consistency in our competent. Consequently, they messaging; to upskill countries found it more difficult to convince I created a team using Conflict, with less communications people to join them, both from Stability and Security Fund experience; to engage with the among the local population in Iraq (CSSF) finance. Additional staff private sector; and to share and from third countries. and resources were provided by content. This has resulted in Daesh is not yet defeated. coalition partners (15 secondees numerous partners using strategic As the organisation fragments, from 11 different countries, so far). comms much more effectively so its propaganda becomes less Our first task was to change to counter extremism and centralised and less consistent. the narrative around Daesh from radicalisation in their own countries. While this diminishes its power, one of success to one of failure. The narrative has, indeed, it also makes it more difficult We needed to damage the Daesh changed. Following the fall of to counter. brand by showing that, contrary Mosul, in Iraq, and Raqqa, in Syria, Daesh will be defeated to its own propaganda, Daesh Daesh has, for some time now, eventually, but it will not be the was failing to win battles, failing been seen globally as a failing, last terrorist group to use Islam as to provide services to people in disintegrating organisation. the ideological underpinning for the territory under its control, and its crimes. This threat is persistent, failing to live up to its promises. FULL SPECTRUM EFFECT organic and generational. New We started sending a daily organisations will learn from media pack around the coalition. Working to put communications Daesh’s media operations, This now goes directly to at the heart of HM Government examine their shortcomings and well over 1,000 officials every policy to counter Daesh was an improve on them. They will use morning in more than 60 partner important subsidiary objective. the full gamut of communications countries. We give updates on We have worked on a full- tools in their efforts to harm the latest news and suggest spectrum approach across us. Our experience with how to respond to atrocities. government, with the Ministry Daesh underlines the need to We provide bits of digital of Defence, Home Office and acknowledge that communication content and suggested tweets others involved in tackling various is a key battleground in preserving and retweets. We also run a parts of the Daesh propaganda our nation’s security. We need website and various social media operation. Having an overarching to improve our capabilities and channels, which help coalition meta-narrative of ‘Daesh is failing’ increase our resources in this area countries tell the story of Daesh’s has helped us focus this activity if we are to stay safe. failures. We receive constant and make it complementary. There is much to do. 6 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

SCIENCE IN EMERGENCIES

Christopher J. M. Whitty, interim Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA), and CSA at the Department of Health, looks at how scientific capability has been applied during national and international crises. (Picture: Simon Davis/DFID) Simon Davis/DFID) (Picture:

Sierra Leonean Junior Doctor Marina Kamara and British Consultant Physician in Acute Medicine Terry Gibson discuss a case.

Preventing an emergency multiple sciences from different THE EBOLA CRISIS 2014 – from turning into a disaster disciplines, including the social BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL requires political, operational and sciences, need to be integrated SCIENCES technical elements. The extent to and deployed before, during and which each is important varies after an emergency. Historically, The Ebola epidemic that hit according to the risk, but almost the UK Civil Service has been West Africa three years ago all emergencies require all three better at integrating science into had a terrible impact on the in some ratio. emergency response than that of countries directly affected. A sure-footed political response most other governments, in part It could, however, have been and good technical analysis because its scientific advisory significantly worse if there had cannot make up for poor delivery. system is stronger. not been a rapid, science-driven Good politics and operational To illustrate some of the response by UK public servants skills will still lead to failure if issues, this article highlights the in support of African colleagues. the scientific or other technical scientific elements underpinning This included major inputs from basis on which the emergency is the Government response to civil servants in the departments addressed is flawed. This applies four recent emergencies; two for International Development to all elements of an emergency, where the potential impact was (DFID), Health (DH), and whether in prediction, mitigation, primarily domestic, and two Defence (MoD), the Foreign response or recovery. where it was predominantly Office, Cabinet Office, and Public For the majority of the potential international. What all have in Health England (PHE), as well emergencies in the UK National common is that several sciences as many NHS and armed forces Risk Register, the technical needed to be understood by professionals. issues are scientific in part or civil servants to inform the UK The failure of the international whole. For most significant risks, Government response. community to respond to CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 7 Issue 15 – December 2017

the early warnings has been well documented: this was not a failure of science, but of translating the science into action. Without the benefit of hindsight, the epidemic could not have been predicted, but could have been mitigated in its early stages. Once a UK response was underway, however, it combined scientific, operational and political elements across government extremely effectively. The initial sciences involved were: mathematical modelling, to estimate the scale and speed of the epidemic and predict its future course; public health sciences, to determine ways to reduce transmission; and laboratory virology, to help improve diagnosis. As the epidemic response got underway, three usually unrelated sciences were central. Social science was needed to reduce transmission, because many of the issues were around deeply rooted behaviours such as burial rites and health-seeking behaviour. Clinical science helped improve the initially dire survival rates of Ebola victims. Vaccine science accelerated the development of three highly effective vaccines that will substantially reduce the chance of an epidemic of Ebola on this scale occurring again. An Environment Agency official on duty during the Somerset floods UK science was central to all of these. Scientific advice fed into the Government’s COBR crisis-response process, using Geological Survey assessed a volcano in Iceland could so the Scientific Advisory Group in likely groundwater drainage suddenly disrupt air transport for Emergencies (SAGE) system, co- rates based on local geology. UK business and holiday travel. chaired by the Government Chief Academics made hydrological Eruptions in Iceland will happen Scientific Adviser and the Chief assessments to predict the rate again, potentially for prolonged Medical Officer. of water movement through the periods (of a year or longer) local river systems. This helped and with more severe effects on FLOODING IN THE SOMERSET provide a basis for government human health and agriculture. LEVELS 2013–14 emergency response and The eruption of Laki in Iceland factual communication with the in 1783 sent clouds of ash and The flooding in Somerset in public, which is so important in sulphur dioxide gas over Europe, the winter of 2013–14 caused emergencies. The same agencies and may have killed around substantial damage and economic working with engineers are 20,000 people in England alone. shocks for families and firms. helping to repair and improve Fortunately, the Eyjafjallajökull Civil Service work, led by the flood defences to mitigate future eruption of 2010 was relatively Department for Environment, emergencies in this historically small by comparison. Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) flood-prone area. Predicting where eruptions through several technical will occur is much easier agencies, supported by Cabinet THE EYJAFJALLAJÖKULL than predicting when – and Office and MoD, helped event VOLCANO AND AIR the volcanoes of Iceland are prediction, mitigation, response TRANSPORT 2010 well studied. In this instance, and recovery. The Met Office the initial sciences that civil provided projections of The majority of the British public servants needed, in particular further rainfall; and the British were surprised that ash from from the Department of 8 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

Transport, were: volcanology, Multiple government its impact in terms of the loss to predict the scale, height and departments, coordinated by of life. UK scientists in the composition of the ash cloud; the Cabinet Office, have recently Earth sciences had led much and monitoring and modelling undertaken an exercise in how of this effort. by meteorologists in the UK and we would respond to a larger or Immediately after the first Iceland to track and forecast the more prolonged volcanic eruption earthquake, which only released location of characteristics of the affecting health and agriculture in around half the energy in the fault, resultant volcanic ash plumes. the UK, as well as transport. UK university geologists helped Geophysicists from the British map the direction of aftershocks Geological Survey provided THE NEPAL EARTHQUAKE 2015 to help plan relief efforts. updates on seismic activity and – GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND While the initial deaths caused possible follow-on eruptions ENGINEERING by earthquakes come from affecting UK airspace. Engineers trauma, usually due to collapsing from Rolls-Royce helped The Nepal earthquake buildings, the predictable determine the effects of different devastated parts of Kathmandu, next wave of mortality comes concentrations of ash on engines. and caused widespread loss from a combination of factors. This allowed policy teams to strike of life. DfID, FCO and MOD These include exposure a reasonable balance between responded. The location, (where meteorology to predict ensuring the safety of people and although not the timing, of this temperatures helps direct relief aircraft flying through ash clouds earthquake had been predicted, efforts); and disease, due to and minimising travel disruption. along with extensive preparation, water and food disruption. In which to some extent mitigated the latter case, epidemiology

Image of Eyjafjallajökull eruption, taken on 17 April 2010 Photo credit: Arni Sigurdsson. © Icelandic Met Office CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 9 Issue 15 – December 2017

and public health expertise between making buildings expertise lies within government are essential to the response. safe and over-engineering, and its technical agencies. Mapping groups were which increases the cost of For others, including volcanic established to analyse satellite building in poorer countries, is a eruptions, earthquakes and the imagery in order to identify difficult one. UK advice helped Ebola crisis, the Government has locations for temporary camps colleagues in the civil service of to use the extensive scientific and new building work. Nepal create a logical structure capacity in the UK academic Satellite mapping was also for addressing these difficult sector and integrate it into Civil used by the British Geological policy choices. Service policy and operations. Survey to assess delayed Most government departments damage due to landslides – CONCLUSIONS will at some point have a which often occur later when the requirement for science in an monsoon rains arrive – allowing Emergencies will always occur. emergency. The extent to which UK aid to be deployed early. Some can be averted by scientific advice is already For long-term recovery prediction and the mitigation integrated into their systems under and to mitigate the impact of of risk based on science. routine conditions will usually earthquakes, the key science However, the Civil Service has determine their ability to predict will be engineering. The majority to predict, prepare for and the effects of the emergency. of fatalities can be reduced by respond to a whole range of It will also determine how rapidly earthquake proofing to buildings, possible eventualities. For some they can respond, making use of as Japan has shown. The trade- emergencies, such as the flooding the science available to them to off during reconstruction in Somerset, much of the scientific mitigate those effects.

VA ADVISORY SUMMIT ELEV: 1666M RMK: ASH CONCENTRATIONS DTG: 20100415/1200Z ADVISORY NR 2010/006 WITHIN THE INDICATED AREAS VAAC: LONDON INFO SOURCE: ICELAND MET OFFICE ARE UNKNOWN VOLCANO: AVIATION COLOUR CODE: RED NXT ADVISORY: 20100415/1800Z EYJAFJALLAJOKULL ERUPTION DETAILS: SIGNIFICANT PSN: N6338 W01937 ERUPTION CONTINUING. PLUM AREA: ICELAND REACHING 6KM, BUT POSSIBLY OCCASIONALLY TO 11KM.

VAG (volcanic ash graphic) from 15 April 2010, showing forecasts for the ash cloud from Eyjafjallajökull over UK and Europe 10 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

FROM CRIME SCENE TO COURT – THE SCIENCE OF EXPLOSIVES

Charlie Stansfield, Content Manager, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Communications Team, gives an insight into the little- known work of a world-leading forensic science facility in keeping the UK safe.

From fireworks to fuselages, illegal use of fireworks to cause establishing whether an if explosives are involved in a harm to people and property, explosive material was involved. crime, the Defence Science and or people illegally producing If yes, what type and how much; Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl) explosives in their sheds or what type of device was used Forensic Explosives Laboratory kitchens from recipes found on and how it was constructed; (FEL) will be involved in the internet. and where the device was analysing the material. placed before the explosion. With world-leading facilities, CASE BY CASE When a device is found some unique in their capability, intact, explosive ordnance run by a team trained in-house, FEL’s work is split into four disposal (EOD) experts will FEL exemplifies what Dstl is main categories: have rendered it safe before here for: delivering high-impact • post-explosion scenes; any assessment by FEL. It is science and technology for • improvised explosives devices; then up to FEL to establish the UK’s defence, security and • finds and caches of explosives whether the device is explosive prosperity. and related materials; and or an elaborate hoax. If it is The FEL has existed in some • examination of suspects, real, then we need to determine form since the 1870s. It is property or premises for trace what the explosive content is; the world’s oldest laboratory levels of explosives (that is, whether the device could have of its kind and has been amounts that cannot be seen functioned (and, if so, to what around longer even than its by the naked eye, as opposed effect); and whether there is current base, Fort Halstead, to bulk levels, which can be any link with previous devices. on the Kentish North Downs, seen, handled and weighed). Following a find of explosives overlooking Sevenoaks. or bomb-making materials, Today, its experts are being Work on a post-explosion FEL looks to determine its called upon to help in the fight scene focuses firstly on significance. What types of against terrorists and criminals. Every criminal or terrorism case that involves explosives in Great Britain, or involving British nationals overseas, is investigated by FEL’s scientists. FEL is funded by the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT) at the Home Office to provide an impartial laboratory that supports the needs of the criminal justice system. Each year, the lab investigates around 200 cases, involving around 2,000 pieces of evidence. FEL scientists have supported the investigations into terrorist atrocities such as the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988, the London 7/7 bombings in 2005, and the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017. The range of issues the lab covers also includes the Scene of the 7/7 bombing, Tavistock Square, 2005 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 11 Issue 15 – December 2017

explosives are present or could WORLD-CLASS TECHNOLOGIES billionth of a gram; and the be made from the materials? laboratories can detect levels Does this tie in with any Scientists at FEL have been 100,000 times less than a single documentation or previous involved in developing innovative grain of sugar. incidents? Is there evidence of new technologies and procedures. This degree of precision is ‘new’ technologies? These include a sample collection made possible by employing the As well as being able to kit, which makes it possible for newest cutting-edge technology provide key evidence on the property of all kinds, from cars to in the trace lab – including a cause of an explosion, traces of carpets, to be sampled at the scene. mass spectrometer operated high explosives aren’t commonly That is not to say that items of this using methods developed with found in the everyday kind have never been examined support from partners at King’s environment and, therefore, at Fort Halstead – vehicles, doors, College London. can have forensic significance and even parts of Hammersmith With this equipment, FEL can if we find them. If, for example, Bridge, have been sampled for confidently separate a sample into we can detect a trace of high explosives. its individual parts and provide explosive, no matter how FEL also developed a forensic information about the amounts of small, on an item of clothing, aid known as a TERK – Trace each part, even when the sample we can conclude that the person Explosives Recovery Kit. This is is vanishingly small. In addition, wearing those clothes is likely used at crime scenes by police where most methods require the to have been in an environment officers to collect material that sample of interest to be compared contaminated with explosives. might otherwise be lost or to a known sample, in order to There may be no other evidence contaminated. The TERK can identify the separate components, linking them to a scene. gather samples as small as one this technology can look for and identify unknown materials.

EXHIBIT A: TELLTALE TRACES several hundred metres underground on the Piccadilly line. During a safety search of premises occupied The teams recovered trace samples and by a suspect, as well as knives, white crystals, evidence to analyse at the lab. Thousands more small initiators and a respirator, EOD found a items, including vehicles and trace kits, were also device taped to a cabinet. A test of the white submitted to FEL in the following weeks. One crystals tested positive for peroxides; and the vehicle, used by three of the suspected bombers, precursor chemicals for the high explosive was recovered at Luton railway station. It contained HMTD (hexamethylene triperoxide diamine) components for a device, including packets of nails, were also recovered. as well as several complete devices containing The suspect was apprehended, allowing FEL HMTD, which were destroyed at the scene. to sample his clothes for explosives. Traces of FEL scientists were deployed again five days after HMTD were recovered from his jacket, shirt, belt, the attack to assist in a police raid at a property in watch, scarf and trousers. Further sampling around Leeds, where it was suspected the bombs had been the wires of small fired initiators and analysis of manufactured. They provided safety advice, ensured the white crystals also identified HMTD, firmly the right samples for analysis were taken, and connecting the suspect to the materials. prioritised more than 150 items for testing, including Documents suggested the individual had been buckets containing a mysterious yellow-brown testing the effectiveness of small initiators and substance. FEL analysis showed the substance to listed plans for improvements. He was sentenced be a novel explosive made from hydrogen peroxide to two years’ imprisonment. and, probably, pepper. By the end of the operation, more than 2,000 EXHIBIT B: THE 7/7 ATTACKS exhibits had been examined. The team’s expert witness statements were used in coroner’s court On 7 July 2005, four bombers attacked the London and at a separate trial of the accomplices, who transport system, killing 52 people and injuring received lengthy prison sentences. nearly 800. Teams from FEL attended each of the scenes, to determine where each device had been EXHIBIT C: ASSASSINATION placed; the explosive used; the size of the device OF BENAZIR BHUTTO and its possible composition; and whether they were suicide bombs. As part of a team led by the Metropolitan The variety and scale of hazards encountered Police’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), FEL across the four scenes were beyond anything supported the investigation into the assassination previously seen in the UK. There were concerns of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto over possible secondary devices, asbestos and a in 2007. suspected gas leak; and the hot and dark working FEL analysis formed part of SO15’s final report, conditions were themselves challenging – not to which found that Ms Bhutto was killed by an mention the traumatic sights at each scene. explosion, causing a fatal impact with the roof The train between King’s Cross and Russell Square escape hatch. tube stations was particularly difficult, being 12 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

RECRUITMENT AND The progression from graduate HORIZON SCANNING PROGRESSION entry to becoming a Forensic Case Officer follows a structured As well as analysing samples, giving The team covering these roles path that typically takes at least advice and providing expert witness is about 30-strong, supported four years. The entry-level role testimony in court, a crucial part of by: colleagues who manage is Forensic Researcher. This FEL’s role is to constantly improve the labs within FEL and look involves two years learning the and stay ‘ahead of the game’. after the technical resource; a ways of the lab and developing This means FEL staff keeping pair of dedicated professional and validating new forensic themselves informed of new photographers to document methods and techniques. explosives and emerging evidence for the courts; and Some FEL staff choose manufacturing methods, for other skilled support staff and to develop their careers as example, on internet forums; and permanent researchers. senior researchers or senior refining sampling and analytical Most new recruits at FEL are support staff; but for those techniques to enhance the lab’s science graduates in subjects who choose to become a court capability. such as Chemistry. Although reporting scientist, the next This is ever more important previous experience in forensic stage is Forensic Analyst. It given terrorists’ use of homemade science is not a prerequisite is in this role that the skills explosives. The bomb-makers for graduate entrants, FEL also of the forensic scientist are may be only amateur chemists recruits experienced forensic developed, working under with no scientific background, scientists from other disciplines, the tutelage of experienced creating explosives that could who then retrain to gain reporting officers. Once they be unstable or have unexpected expertise in explosives. are considered to have enough properties. Constant research and The requirements are: strong experience, Forensic Analysts analysis means fewer surprises and scientific ability; the capacity progress to become Forensic fewer unknown materials, and, if for hard work; and an absolute Case Officers, and are assigned something new does emerge, FEL dedication to applying science their own cases. is more likely to have the capability rigorously and impartially to to deal with it. support justice.

Forensic Case Officer analysing a car to recover traces of explosives, as part of a training exercise CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 13 Issue 15 – December 2017

The requirements are: strong scientific ability; the capacity for hard work; and an absolute dedication to applying science rigorously and impartially to support justice.

Forensic Case Officer working to recover evidence from a jacket in the laboratory 14 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

ACTIVE CYBER DEFENCE FOR THE UK

Ciaran Martin, Chief Executive, National Cyber Security Centre outlines the four measures already announced as part of the UK’s Active Cyber Defence programme.

The Government cares about to steal or tamper with stuff, that’s the law. This is a national cyber security for two reasons. the attacker may well go away, problem, not an organisational one. One is national security. Cyber because there are plenty of We’ve made spoofing attack can be (and occasionally, other easier targets around. much harder if bodies adopt in other countries, has been) This in turn explains, in part, the Domain-based Message used as a way of damaging why the National Cyber Security Authentication Reporting and the security of a state, whether Centre (NCSC) was set up. We’re Conformance protocol – or through interfering in electrical proudly part of GCHQ, the near DMARC. This helps determine systems or elections. The second century-old government signals whether a communication reason is economic. Britain is one and communications intelligence comes from the organisation of the most digitally advanced agency. There isn’t space here it purports to. What DMARC economies in the world. That’s a to outline in full the range of the does is tell the internet’s vital national asset. But it won’t NCSC’s activities in leading the distribution mechanisms how to continue if citizens don’t think response to major cyber attacks recognise a genuine email from the digital environment is safe. affecting the UK – protecting our an organisation. We tried it out One thing the areas of critical national infrastructure with HMRC in 2016. Instead of national security and economic and raising our defences as a delivering the fake emails to the prosperity have in common, whole. Instead, I want to outline user with a warning, they were from the point of view of cyber the world-leading programme delivered to us. We got 300 security, is their vulnerability to we announced just after the million of them in 2016 alone. attacks on basic weaknesses General Election to protect the The best thing about this system in defences. National security UK Government and public is that ordinary computer users attacks can certainly be highly services by improving the basic don’t have to make a judgement sophisticated (though not all level of defences. about whether to open a are, and sophisticated attacks One of the fundamental ‘dodgy’-looking email (please are difficult and costly to problems in cyber security is write and tell me if you know mount at scale). However, by that it is shrouded in mystery. how to do that). So DMARC far the biggest problem facing It was necessary to get across works, and is now freely available the UK in cyberspace is the that the measures we believed to all departments. accumulation of high-volume, departments should put in place low-sophistication, automated are easy to understand. They are 2. STOPPING GOVERNMENT attacks from criminals and states also easy to implement, and free. SYSTEMS VEERING ONTO seeking money or some form of In due course, we will publish MALICIOUS WEBSITES competitive advantage. the data to show whether This explains why the UK’s they work. Cyber attacks also commonly record in cyber security to date There are four measures involve redirecting a user away is relatively good in terms of already announced as from the domain they intended national security, though we’ve part of our ‘active cyber to access, to somewhere that acknowledged that we have defence’ programme. contains malware* or is fraudulent. some way to go when it comes We’ve worked with a commercial to our basic defences. Raising 1. BLOCKING FAKE EMAILS partner to set up a filtering the standard of these defences service for public sector bodies is the most important thing we Online spoofing – pretending to that stops this from happening for can do as a country, because, be someone you’re not, usually registered users. for the attacker, cyber attack by way of a fake email – is one Domain Name Service (DNS) is fundamentally about return of the biggest problems in is the phonebook of the internet, on investment – what they cyberspace. Once someone and our new service focuses on will potentially get out of an opens the email, clicks on the data that GCHQ and commercial attack compared to how easy link, and opens the attachment partners have acquired from or difficult it is to mount it. If it’s – the attack succeeds. But the malicious addresses. It then simply easy to get in – and lucrative organisation that is spoofed blocks the user from going there – once the attacker is in – the doesn’t suffer any damage – if providing automatic protection for attacker will come. If it’s hard to it’s HMRC, for example, people staff visiting infected sites while get in and, once you do, it’s hard are still going to pay tax because using work systems.

CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 15 Issue 15 – December 2017

3. Helping public bodies easily the first 24 hours, compared to fix website problems 3% before.

Attackers also learn what ADVENTUROUS AGENDA to target by scanning for vulnerabilities in Internet-facing These measures are part of a services. The UK public sector new and adventurous agenda has a huge digital estate to from the NCSC that is drawing manage. This isn’t easy and attention from around the provides a useful set of targets world. We’re not claiming to for attackers. If an organisation get everything right, but we set doesn’t know how to check for out to use GCHQ’s world-class vulnerabilities – such as unused expertise for the benefit of all sites or those with out-of-date UK internet users. We aim to certificates – they provide an innovate constantly; and to give open goal for attackers. Web users easy and cheap ways of check is a free-to-use website making themselves that bit safer configuration and vulnerability online – because every extra bit scanning service, available to all of protection counts. We’re also UK public sector organisations. serious about being open; and It scans and then gives you a we want to work with partners report in plain English on what in government, law enforcement, needs fixing and how to fix it. business, with citizens’ groups and internationally. And we’ll 4. REMOVING BAD THINGS publish details of how we get on FROM THE INTERNET so you can judge for yourself. (PHISHING† AND MALWARE MITIGATION)

Since June 2016, the NCSC has * Malware is software designed been working with Netcraft, to disrupt, damage, or gain a private sector company, authorised access to a on a phishing and malware computer system. countermeasures service to † Phishing is the fraudulent protect government brands and practice of sending emails that UK service hosting infrastructure. purport to be from reputable Government departments organisations in order to benefit automatically from this induce individuals to reveal protection without having to personal information, such do anything. Departments can as passwords and credit card boost the service by notifying numbers. Netcraft if they discover they are the target of a phishing campaign, or that there are malicious emails purporting to be from them. Netcraft will then issue takedown notifications to the hosts of the email and phishing sites. To help this work, departments and businesses should forward offending emails and any attachments to [email protected]. Since Netcraft started this work, the average ‘time to die’ for phishing sites relating to government has fallen from 27 hours prior to the service’s introduction, to under one hour; and for malware from 525 to 43 hours. For attacks on HM Government hosted outside the UK, 63% of Advance Fee Fraud sites spoofing the Government (where an email purporting to be from HMG asks for credit card details) are taken down within National Cyber Security Centre HQ 16 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

CIVIL SERVICE TRANSFORMATION

John Manzoni, Chief Executive of the Civil Service, explains why the Civil Service is transforming the way it works and why it needs to accelerate the change.

We have set ourselves the goal and improve, we will also fail the of becoming ‘A Brilliant Civil test of the times. If we get left Service’, the best in the world. behind, we risk forfeiting the trust How we measure up against of the citizens who rely on the this ambition will have a bearing services we provide. We must now on how successful we are in seize the moment, spurred on by creating a fair, efficient and Brexit and the changes in society prosperous society, and a Global – to accelerate our transformation. Britain that people want to visit, I say accelerate, because study in, invest in and trade with. civil servants are already doing The Civil Service has great brilliant things that show what strengths. It is built on tried and a transformed Civil Service, tested principles that are also fit for the 21st century, can the basis of its international achieve. I see this at first hand reputation for reliable and trusted when I visit teams across the public service. country. They are collaborating In the new International Civil more, delivering more for less, Service Effectiveness (InCiSE) and building high-quality – Index – which compares increasingly digital – public performance on core functions changing in ways and at a pace services focused on what’s best such as policy advice, fiscal we could not afford to ignore. for the people who use them, and financial management, That pace is only increasing. not what’s best for government. and regulation, and attributes Advances in technology have Now, we have to go further to such as openness, integrity revolutionised how people buy create government that works and inclusiveness – the UK Civil goods and services and manage in smarter ways and is capable Service ranked fourth overall. other aspects of their lives. They of keeping up with the rate of This is a good result. But – rightly expect to be able to deal change in the world around while the fundamental values with government in the same us. This means not just quicker (integrity, honesty, impartiality convenient and accessible way change, but transformation at and objectivity) that underpin – online, and on demand. At a fundamental level in how and everything we do will stand the same time, society itself is where we work and in the tools us in good stead – it is not the changing – it’s more diverse than we use (both the hardware of whole story. The most effective it’s ever been, and people are technology and the software organisations react positively, living longer, putting greater strain of data from which we draw flexibly and practically to – and on health and welfare services. evidence) to fashion services even anticipate – challenges. that improve lives. It also means They change decisively to meet changing our culture, the ‘shape’ them and are always looking to For the Civil of civil service careers and the improve. For the Civil Service, Service, being the look of the workforce, because a being the best means providing brilliant Civil Service is ultimately the best results for the people it best means providing about people. exists to serve. the best results for DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION A MOMENT FOR CHANGE the people it exists Our Civil Service should reflect Today, we find ourselves in one to serve. the society it works for, in all its of those moments that demand diversity. It must also be inclusive. change. The pressure for change An inclusive culture will allow us has been building for some time, to tap into the talent, experiences since the 2008 financial crash On top of this, we now have and insights of civil servants put a huge strain on budgets Brexit, the nation’s biggest priority. from varied backgrounds that and a premium on greater Therefore, our ambition for the will provide better outcomes efficiency and value for money. Civil Service is fuelled by the for citizens; while giving all our Even before that, the world was realisation that, if we fail to change people the freedom to to be CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 17 Issue 15 – December 2017

themselves and the opportunity from underrepresented groups and the insight and judgement to reach their full potential. that will help us to remove to produce and deliver different, We are committed to becoming barriers to progress and create workable solutions. the most inclusive employer in truly representative diversity. All the Government Functions the UK by 2020. The proportions are now mapping out their of ethnic minority (11.6%) and ‘RESHAPING’ CAREERS own career paths. Meanwhile, disabled civil servants (10%) are the graduate Fast Stream offers already the highest ever, with As important as greater diversity opportunities in 15 different increased representation on and inclusion are, the change I schemes for new and existing civil Civil Service talent programmes. want to see in the Civil Service is servants, from Digital, and Data The graduate Fast Stream has about something more. It’s about & Technology, to Project Delivery recruited graduates from more engineering a fundamental shift and Commercial. diverse backgrounds than ever in the balance of experience and before, with 14.6% from an ethnic skills of all civil servants. We are MODERN WORKPLACES minority and 9.6% declaring a traditionally brilliant at policy, and disability. Over 40% of senior civil there is a very good reason for Another essential component of servants are women – up 10% this – we are geared to producing continuous, deep improvement in over the last 10 years. policy specialists. We need to the Civil Service - and the services We have also pledged to create reshape the next generations of we provide – is making sure we 30,000 apprenticeships by civil servants around new career have modern workplaces, up-to- 2020, opening the Civil Service pathways that build professional date equipment and the skills to up to talented people from a expertise in key disciplines, make the most of them. wider range of socio–economic the core government functions, In major cities across the UK, backgrounds and helping us to while giving them the chance to we are creating around 20 strategic build capability in key areas. broaden their practical experience. hubs. This programme will reduce This is good progress, but the The goal is to make us as effective the number of government job is far from over. in delivery – of projects, services, buildings from around 800 to Our new Diversity and Inclusion procurements – as we are in 200 by 2023. Hubs will allow us Strategy focuses very deliberately policy-making. This broader, to locate teams from different on representation and inclusion. delivery-based experience, will departments in the same offices, It establishes measures based on encourage different approaches enabling greater collaboration the actual experiences of people to the complex issues we face and a smarter, one-Civil-Service 18 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

approach, using mobile technology the commercial curriculum. time, so busy families can clearly and focusing operations at a local The Major Projects Leadership see which offer works best and regional level. Academy has trained more than for them; more than 260,000 The Department for Work & 300 senior project people; while parents have already opened Pensions is already delivering more the Digital Academy will train up a childcare account and are efficient services by concentrating to 3,000 people a year across benefiting from new forms of its resources in co-locations with government in the skills they need childcare support; and other departments and local in data and technology as well as • Universal Credit (UC) full government. And, by 2021, HMRC digital. service, which will enable will set up 13 regional centres as claimants to make a claim, part of transforming itself into a MODERN SERVICES check details of payments, smaller, more collaborative, better notify changes of circumstance equipped and more highly skilled We are deploying technology and search for a job through a operation for the digital age. These to modernise public services, single digital account – 99.6% modern centres will replace the saving time and money for users. of applications for UC are now department’s ageing network of Her Majesty’s Passport Office is made online. 140 offices, which are expensive sending millions of messages to to run and create isolated pockets, users, updating them on passport MODERN LEADERS doing a narrow range of work. renewals, with the aim of over The One Public Estate 90% of passport applications Change of this scale and depth programme is promoting joint being fully digital by 2020; and requires a new approach to working across central and local the Environment Agency is issuing leadership. We need leaders government and is on track to up to 40,000 rod fishing licences who can explain the goal of create at least 44,000 jobs and a day, using the GOV.UK Notify transformation and take their release land for 25,000 homes platform for sending emails people through it. Leaders who by 2020. and texts. are confident beyond their own We expect to have delivered at professional area, by virtue of their least 89 digital public services by broad experience of government, We need 2020. To exploit the efficiencies and whose first instinct is to leaders who can and convenience of technology collaborate, defying the silo to the full, these services will mentality. explain the goal of increasingly be provided by a The new Civil Service Leadership government that is digital – and Academy will strengthen these transformation and digitally skilled – from its back- abilities, initially in leaders at take their people office operations to what citizens senior level, but in due course see and use on their computers through programmes open to through it. Leaders and mobile devices every day. all grades. Integral elements will By 2020, HMRC will have be learning from leaders sharing who are confident moved to a fully digital tax their experiences – both good beyond their own system, allowing businesses and and bad - with immersive case individual taxpayers to update studies of managing projects; and professional area, their information and pay their encouraging inclusive leadership taxes when and where they want that connects with people. by virtue of their to and at any point in the year. These are exciting times for broad experience of And we’ve begun the biggest everyone in government. The courts reform programme in the excitement is wrapped up in the government... world, digitalising processes and challenges and opportunities introducing virtual hearings. of transformation. What we Through Government as a are saying to all civil servants Platform, digital services are is: embrace the changes and These changes are generating underpinned by common grasp the opportunities they opportunities for civil servants technology components, service are creating. There’s a role at all grades: opportunities to designs and platforms such as for everyone in getting better learn the expert skills in digital, GOV.UK Notify, and Pay (a secure at what we do, but everyone data, project management and payment service). Departments must take responsibility for commercial needed to deliver can use these as a base on which their own development, doing government priorities, and to to build their own digital services, things differently and inspiring take new professional career making it easier and cheaper to colleagues. paths. For the time being, we deliver customer-facing systems For all civil servants, the prize will bring in external expertise that meet the unique user at the heart of the change that’s where necessary, but our aim is to requirements of each service. underway is to be ‘A Brilliant Civil outgrow this need by developing As I write, we are delivering 40 Service’; to be proud of what our own people. In commercial, major government transformation we do as civil servants every for example, we have brought programmes, including: day, wherever we work; and for in external specialists while also • the new Childcare Choices everyone in the country to take ensuring that existing staff have website: this brings all childcare pride in us. opportunities to develop through options together for the first CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 19 Issue 15 – December 2017

THE WHAT WORKS TEAM: SUPPORTING THE RISE OF EXPERIMENTAL GOVERNMENT

Dr Jen Gold, Head of the What Works Team in Cabinet Office, sees growing opportunities for departmental policy-makers to generate more of their own evidence of what works.

The idea that good decision- policy in a fundamentally as the National What Works making should be informed different way? What if their Adviser – can help. It supports by the best available evidence standard practice was to test civil servants working in both is hardly a controversial one. variations in approach to a policy and operational delivery Yet there remain many gaps particular policy problem and roles to generate and use more in the evidence available to then rigorously evaluate the evidence. It also strives to put in government. results? What if it was business place institutional structures that Take, for example, crime as usual for civil servants running improve the supply of evidence. reduction. When it comes to frontline services to test new The team understands how organised crime, asset-focused interventions before they are complex it is to design trials interventions (AFIs) – such fully rolled out? and impact evaluations in as confiscating property and government. And at a time when recovering unpaid tax – are HARNESSING OUR COLLECTIVE budgets are constrained, it’s an increasingly popular law EXPERTISE never been more important to enforcement strategy. But while share in-house expertise. we know of around 300 studies Experimentation is certainly not That’s why the What Works on AFIs, none involves proper new to government. The Ministry Team runs a cross-government impact evaluation. This lack of of Agriculture and Fisheries Trial Advice Panel, bringing evidence means that we have no (1919–1955) was a big sponsor together some of the top trialling certainty as to the effectiveness of experimental methods in experts in the Civil Service. Panel of AFIs in disrupting and farming research, much of it members are on hand to offer deterring organised crime. at Rothamsted Experimental free advice to policy teams on Station in Hertfordshire. what sort of trial or test will IMPROVING THE SUPPLY OF Departments such as Work generate the most useful results EVIDENCE & Pensions and HMRC also on what works. That might be have a long history of running an RCT, or equally it might be We can – and must – do more to controlled trials to discover what another type of experimental encourage universities and other works. And the Behavioural or quasi-experimental method. research organisations to help Insights Team that was set up in Panel members can also advise us plug gaps in our knowledge. the Cabinet Office in 2010 (and on evaluation design or be We have made a start. Since now operates as a social purpose called on to offer guidance as March, some departments have company) spearheaded the use challenges arise during a trial. begun issuing Areas of Research of randomised controlled trials Thanks to support from the Interest. These set out ‘the most (RCTs) in parts of Whitehall Economic and Social Research important research questions’ for that had previously shown little Council, the panel also consists each department that academic enthusiasm for such activities. of 30 UK-based academics from research could help address. But testing and evaluation is a range of disciplines, all of First out of the blocks have been still hugely under-used across whom have first-hand experience the departments of Health, for government. We need to of conducting high-quality trials Transport, and for Environment, strengthen our capacity to test and evaluations. Food & Rural Affairs, as well as new and varied approaches, Since the panel was launched the Food Standards Agency. and to build in rapid and robust in 2015, members have assisted More will soon follow. evaluation. Only then can we projects in 16 departments and However, there are even bigger shift resources from less to more public bodies. The team has opportunities for departments effective programmes. seen plenty of examples – such to generate more of their own This is where the Cabinet as end-of-life care – where civil evidence on what works. What Office What Works Team – servants have been able to test if policy teams routinely made supported by David Halpern new interventions in settings 20 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

END-OF-LIFE SUPPORT TRIAL, CABINET THE EDUCATION ENDOWMENT OFFICE FOUNDATION’S RCTS

One of the earliest projects supported by the Almost one third of all schools in England Trial Advice Panel was a Cabinet Office trial to (a staggering 7,500 in all) have participated in test the evidence behind community-based trials funded by EEF. Nearly all of these were end-of-life support – i.e. the use of volunteers randomised control trials. to supplement state provision. As a result, in just six years the EEF has more The Cabinet Office’s Centre for Social than doubled the amount of evidence we have Action was keen to understand the impact of from experimental trials in education in this befriending services. For example, did they country. When parents drop their children off improve quality of life? Did they reduce the at the school gates, they can now be assured experience of loneliness and the burden felt that there’s a much stronger evidence base to by family members caring for their terminally support their child’s education. ill relatives? We now know, for example, that the use of Trial Advice panel members offered phonics is cost-effective in teaching young advice concerning: children to read (even more so if teachers eligibility criteria and consent; when to receive formal training in phonics interventions). consider the trial complete; But older children who are struggling to how to communicate with volunteer read would likely benefit far more from other organisations (many of whom were not used interventions such as meta-cognition and to, or necessarily comfortable with, research reading comprehension strategies. trials in this area); and how to liaise with the external organisations commissioned to evaluate the trial. Befriending services were found to have a positive impact on slowing the decline in participants’ physical health. The evaluation had important implications for the delivery of services. In terms of having a meaningful impact on quality of life, the trial pointed to targeting limited resources at certain groups who could receive more intensive support (e.g. older men who live alone) rather than spreading contact hours over a larger group of recipients.

often dismissed as being too delivering programmes and existing evidence, and offering problematic for experimentation services have as much access accessible summaries for by government. as possible to the evidence that policymakers, practitioners and The What Works Team also already exists. To assist in this, commissioners. recognises that the key to the team coordinates a network For instance, the reviews stimulating greater interest of seven independent What undertaken by the College in testing what works is to Works Centres – covering crime of Policing (who run the help civil servants understand reduction, health, education, What Works Centre for Crime experimental methods. With early years interventions, Reduction) suggest that CCTV, this in mind, it is collaborating ageing, wellbeing, and local street lighting and the intensive with the Cross-Government economic growth. policing of crime ‘hot spots’ Evaluation Group and the Nearly all of these receive all reduce crime. On the other Policy Profession Support Unit direct government funding. hand, there’s very little evidence to design and deliver training. However, they are not like other that the electronic monitoring The team is now involved research institutions. They of offenders (through the use in graduate Fast Stream provide practical advice on the of ankle or wrist tags) has inductions, the Future Leaders available evidence on different any overall effect on crime, Scheme and the development interventions – drawing on despite being so widely used. of new course material through and interpreting evidence Yet, in the case of one specific Civil Service Learning. that is often highly technical group – sex offenders – there in nature, buried in academic is strong evidence to show that MAKING USE OF THE WHAT journals, or unpublished. electronic monitoring reduces WORKS NETWORK Their staff members (or the criminal activity. partner organisations they Some of the centres also try At the same time, it’s work with) comb the internet to address gaps in the evidence important that policymakers, and academic databases, base by commissioning their commissioners and those systematically assessing the own trials. The Education CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 21 Issue 15 – December 2017

Figure 1: College of Policing’s Crime Reduction Toolkit. Source: http://whatworks.college.police.uk/toolkit/Pages/Toolkit.aspx

Endowment Foundation (EEF) practitioners rarely have the dissemination strategies. has had by far the biggest time to locate and analyse The team would like to work programme. The College of evidence systematically. These with as many other teams and Policing is also supporting an toolkits allow users to compare units across government as increasing number of trials. the effectiveness and cost of possible to drive this initiative Just recently, it has sponsored different interventions, as well forward. Why not: trials on stop-and-search as the strength of the available • learn more about and interventions to reduce evidence. experimental methods by domestic violence. The centres also have watching the team’s online One of the biggest challenges outreach programmes to video; remains the need to ensure help embed their learning in • make use of the tools and that this evidence reaches practice. To take one example, resources produced by the decision-makers. This is critical the College of Policing recruits What Works Centres; and if the What Works Network is ‘evidence champions’ within • consider using the Trial to help practitioners improve police forces and runs a High Advice Panel if you’re thinking the delivery of services and Potential Development Scheme of running a trial in your area put decision-makers in a that promotes evidence-based of work. position to shift resources policing. towards interventions that are The What Works Team achieving results. supports the communication A number of centres, of their findings through including the College of meetings and workshops across For more information on the Policing, have made their government, and via social What Works initiative, email: findings more accessible media and publications. It also [email protected] through a user-friendly toolkit regularly brings the centres For regular updates, follow the (see Figure 1). They appreciate together so they can support What Works Team onTwitter: that policymakers and frontline each other as they develop their @WhatWorksUK 22 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

POLICY PROPELLER: TRANSFORMING POLICYMAKING IN THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT

Ana Costea, Policy Profession Programme Lead, Department for Transport (DfT), and Pauline Reeves, Deputy Director, Road User Licensing Insurance & Safety, DfT, and Policy Fellow, Cambridge University Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP), look at a DfT initiative for generating fresh policy ideas

The Department for Transport academics and fellows. CSaP THE MAKING OF COHORT 1 is looking to challenge its own organises workshops for the thinking and generate fresh Propeller programme, providing a Every Policy Propeller cohort policy ideas. forum for policy professionals to is allocated a director sponsor In August 2016, the department discuss high-priority issues and and a policy ‘challenge’. The launched Policy Propeller as network with researchers. aim of the scheme is to widen part of the novel Learning & These workshops allow the experience of policymakers’ Development process. It was decision-makers to test and sources of evidence and their inspired by the experience of shape their thinking by working focus on academic research, and Pauline Reeves, a Senior Civil through specific policy challenges to exchange knowledge/skills Service (SCS) participant in with researchers. And networking with CSaP’s contacts. Cambridge University’s Policy can help to build longer-term Each cohort takes part in three Fellowship scheme. connections between CSaP pairs of workshops, each pair Pauline was influenced by the members in the academic/ addressing a different policy issue academic input of the fellowship research community and the identified in advance by DfT. in suggesting a change in the policy-makers, supporting the Following every pair of policy direction on encouraging sharing of good practice for workshops, teams present their more people to cycle. She evidence-informed policy-making. findings to DfT ExCo (Executive believed that other DfT policy staff should have the opportunity to experience the same stimulus and challenge that she had experienced through the Policy Fellowship. The Policy Propeller scheme is a bespoke, departmentally funded scheme for DfT policy professionals, supported by DfT’s Executive Committee of Director Generals and the Permanent Secretary. It has been developed in collaboration with Cambridge University’s Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP), whose mission is to improve public policy through the more effective use of evidence and expertise. The scheme consists of cohorts of up to 10 DfT policy professionals sourced from talent grids and nominated by directors. Its aim is to spark a mutually beneficial dialogue between the policy professionals and CSaP’s wide range of researchers, Joint DfT/CSaP meeting CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 23 Issue 15 – December 2017

Policy Propeller workshop in progress

Committee) and the DfT Policy also provided an opportunity commended. Cohort 1 ultimately Profession Steering Group, pitching to network with PhD students. influenced the Government’s policy solutions in partnership with Two small groups were formed first statutory cycling and their academic colleagues for the to examine both the 2025 and walking strategy, published in department to try out. the 2040 targets. Working with May this year. The first policy challenge to be CEDAR researchers, the teams Two cohorts, each of 10 set was the commitment in the explored some of the barriers, DfT staff (with additional 2015 Conservative Party manifesto opportunities, trends and CSaP members), have been to double the number of cycling evidence gaps to address some completed since the launch of stages (i.e. cycling as part of of the difficulties thrown up by the scheme. A further cohort one point-to-point journey) the policy commitment. followed this autumn. from 800 million to 1.6 billion by The second workshop centred DfT is so pleased with the 2025. This was combined with on refining the identified outcomes that it wants to a later commitment for cycling options and the advice on replicate the scheme, and is to become the default for short developing proposals and extending a tailored programme journeys, aimed towards the preparing pitches from experts at Executive Officer level 2040s. in the field. and making this part of the Two workshops were held in Between the workshops, overall talent management Cambridge. The first focused discussions were held to and capability strategy for the on interaction with academics address the options and department. Having senior buy- from CEDAR (Centre for Diet the pitch session, and a in from members of the DfT and Activity Research). They chronological ideas planning ExCo was and remains crucial have created a Propensity process was conducted. to the scheme’s adoption and to Cycle Tool to visualise The workshops were continuation. They act as the evidence of cycle usage, and completed as part of the final panel to approve policy to inform the public (and officials’ ‘day jobs’, and the ideas, some of which may feed policy officials) on existing enthusiasm and commitment into current policy thinking measures of cycling data. This of the teams was highly around the issues in question. 24 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

INTERVIEW WITH CAMPBELL McCAFFERTY, GOVERNMENT CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER

What are the biggest What are your priorities security challenges we face as Government Chief in government, and how are Security Officer? we tackling them? I see my top priorities as: The biggest challenge we, and I • delivering a government believe the UK as a whole, face security transformation in security is staying ahead of programme that ensures HM the rapid pace of change. By Government can rely upon a this I mean the speed at which world-class security operation technology is evolving; fewer now and into the future; government buildings and the • building a government security shift from office-based to a profession that develops, far more mobile workforce; attracts and keeps the best the migration of critical public talent and is seen services to the web; and as a key enabler for changes in the wider society government business; and we recruit from. • raising the level of ambition Set alongside this is an across all areas of security, equally fast-moving threat with higher standards in cyber, Campbell McCafferty picture. personnel and physical security was appointed as the first Reconciling the pace of – to make HMG the hardest Government Chief Security change with the threat is the target it can be. Officer (GCSO) in July biggest challenge. For example, 2016. The GCSO replaced how can we safely maximise What are the biggest barriers to the role of Government the huge opportunities understanding the requirements Senior Information Risk provided by technology while of security in government? Owner. The creation of appreciating that cyber offers the GCSO as functional the lowest-cost, lowest-risk The perception is often that head of government way to steal from or disrupt ‘security says no’ and is a security is an important government business? blocker, where it should be an step towards strengthening A recent review of enabler of new technology and and professionalising this government security found ways of working. Civil servants critical area of work. The too much duplicated effort I speak to often see security GCSO reports to the Chief across departments, and as opaque or confusing and a Executive of the Civil over-complicated practices. hurdle they have to cross before Service. Government security has been things can get done. In addition to his role delivered in a broadly similar We’re now working much more as GCSO, Campbell is the way for the last 30 years. closely with the HR, Digital and Director of Cyber and To tackle this, the Cabinet Commercial functions so that we Government Security in Office has established a understand their needs and they the Cabinet Office, and is transformation programme have a clearer understanding responsible for delivery to deliver a step change in about what we do, and why. of the National Cyber government security. There’s a phrase I like that says, Security Strategy (https:// The programme will create a ‘security just needs to be good www.gov.uk/government/ security system that delivers a enough’. Even done properly, publications/national-cyber- higher quality and more efficient security can add cost and security-strategy-2016– service, one that is focused on reduce functionality, so it is to–2021) and National Cyber enabling civil servants to work incumbent on the security Security Programme. in a way that is secure. profession to focus on the Prior to this appointment, At the same time, it will allow things that really matter. There Campbell led the Civil cross-departmental working and is also no such thing as absolute Contingencies Secretariat the use of modern technology. security: risk management is and has held a number of critical, as is expressing security defence roles, including risks in language the business Head of Counter Terrorism can understand. and UK Operational Policy. CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 25 Issue 15 – December 2017 26 CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY Issue 15 – December 2017

We constantly have to make who might try and steal public How closely do you work with risk decisions on how to balance money or sensitive government other government security and security and business need. For information using more intelligence agencies? example, the trade-offs between traditional means. keeping a digital service up and We must also be very aware We work very closely with available, versus taking it down that not all security threats fit the intelligence agencies and in order to patch and secure it. into a neat box. There is a lot other organisations to keep Creating this transparency is vital of crossover between cyber, government safe. In particular, to reducing barriers. physical and personnel security. the National Cyber Security And those decisions also A good example would be an Centre (within GCHQ) and need to be reviewed regularly improperly vetted contractor the Centre for Protecting as the needs, the threat and the (personnel), gaining access to National Infrastructure (MI5), context change. And to help a government data centre that which are the UK National departments understand what was poorly secured (physical) Technical Authorities for cyber ‘secure enough’ looks like, we are and plugging in a USB containing and personnel, and physical introducing minimum security malware to enable an attacker to security respectively. This standards for staff, buildings and gain a foothold on the network means they provide the advice technology. (cyber). A system that is not and guidance that we base joined up doesn’t recognise this our policies and standards on. How important are civil servants multi-pronged threat and leaves The intelligence agencies also in keeping government safe? us more vulnerable as result. provide crucial information What I’m trying to say is that on the threats to government, People are our strongest defence our attackers don’t think in silos which helps our team and when it comes to security, and of cyber, personnel or physical, departments work out how best almost all security incidents have so neither should we. to protect ourselves. a decisive human factor, such as clicking on a malicious link or How joined up is leaving documents on the train. government security? How are we making sure we While government is are recruiting and developing responsible for keeping its The changes we are making the best talent to counter the staff and information safe, civil over the next two years will increasing sophistication of servants also have an important deliver much more consistency, cyber and other threats? role to play. This may sound with security services being daunting and many people delivered by centralised units We want to build the next are put off or confused by rather than separate services generation of security complicated security rules, within each department. These professionals to include a but there are a number of simple bigger and more capable diverse range of talent. Our things you can do to keep teams will ensure that skills and recruitment approach will yourself safe at home and work. resources can be more evenly be to attract people from a Most of this is just common distributed across government wide variety of backgrounds, sense and good judgement. enabling greater sharing of best including bringing more women Staff should refer to the practice, less duplication and into the profession and those Government Security Principles more opportunities for security from groups of protected and Behaviours. You should also practitioners to develop and characteristics. We need people make sure you’re aware of your progress within the profession with a wide range of skills such department’s security policies We will also be introducing as commercial, technology, and who to notify if there’s baseline standards and clear HR, communications and risk a problem. compliance processes across management to name but a few. government. We recognise that, A more diverse workforce Given the prominence of cyber at the moment, security policies will provide fresh perspectives, threats and attacks in the media and standards are not applied innovation and better reflect the and elsewhere, is there a risk consistently across government, businesses we support. that we lose a holistic approach which makes it hard to assess the to security? risks that we face. The changes Why should people want to we will be introducing will result work in government security, Yes, I think there is a danger that in more effective performance compared with a role in a big we lose our holistic approach. monitoring and a clearer picture private sector company? We have been doing personnel of how we are dealing with and physical security for so many security threats. Government can offer a scale years we sometimes see the Security is also becoming a and scope of challenge that cyber threat as something so cross-government function, far exceeds that found in the new and different that it almost alongside digital, HR, commercial commercial sector. Government becomes a domain unto itself. and finance. This is allowing us to business involves dealing with In many cases, the people on create much greater integration millions of people and with the other end of the keyboard and collaboration between the billions of pounds – experience who want to do us harm have different functions and helps us that can’t be matched exactly the same intent as those learn from each other. commercially. CIVIL SERVICE QUARTERLY 27 Issue 15 – December 2017

It also offers an opportunity to government to deliver now and in sharing of security services, best tackle the most severe threats the future. practice and expertise. and build deep relationships We want to empower our staff We will create a new culture with the security and and we are committed to their where security is seen as an intelligence agencies and wider development, so that they can integral part of everyone’s role, national security community, have clear and exciting careers enabling them to do their job both in the UK and abroad. within government security. We effectively. want to ensure that government We will create a new structure What is your vision of how security is a brilliant area to work for government security with government security will look in in to attract and retain the very expert professionals providing the future? best talent. high-quality, dynamic security We must transform our security services that protect and enable Our vision is to have a thriving systems to modernise and protect government to deliver now and in security profession made up against an ever-evolving range of the future. of subject matter experts who threats. We want to bring together Security is an essential part of provide high-quality, dynamic departments and security teams, good government – we need to security services that enable and foster cross-government protect to enable. © Crown copyright 2017 You may re-use this information (excluding images and logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives. gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/2/ or email [email protected]