Written question asked by Baroness Uddin (Non-affiliated) on Monday, 29 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 July 2026. It was answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 July 2026 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

COBR: Crimes of Violence

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what criteria they apply when deciding whether to convene a COBR meeting following violent attacks against communities; and what consideration they have given to convening a COBR meeting to discuss recent attacks on British Muslims.

Answer: The Cabinet Office maintains the framework for how the UK central government collectively responds to crises that require co-ordination across government, it is called the Amber Book. The UK’s emergency management system is founded on the principle of subsidiarity, where decisions are taken at the lowest possible level and co‑ordination at the highest necessary. Most emergencies in the UK are handled at a local level by local responders without the need to activate the government central crisis management arrangements, Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR). There is no set criteria for when COBR will be activated. The Government considers a range of guiding thresholds that are detailed in the Amber Book, with a key consideration being whether urgent collective decision‑making from ministers is required.

Secondary information