UK Launches New ‘Home Guard’ to Protect Key Infrastructure

The UK government is set to launch a new “Home Guard” to enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, including power plants, airports, and undersea communication hubs. Drawing inspiration from the World War II-era Local Defence Volunteers, the initiative will recruit thousands of civilian volunteers to assist security forces in safeguarding vital sites from potential threats, such as terrorism or hostile state actions. This move comes as part of a broader Strategic Defence Review, which also proposes a significant expansion of the army and improvements to the Navy’s undersea surveillance capabilities.

The establishment of this new Home Guard reflects mounting concerns over national security, particularly in light of escalating global tensions with nations like Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The UK government’s “hedgehog Britain” strategy aims to fortify the nation’s defenses by integrating both military and civilian efforts, ensuring the protection of essential infrastructure. In addition to this, the government plans to ramp up defense spending, targeting 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with ambitions to reach 3% in the next parliamentary term.

This initiative is part of a wider effort to strengthen the UK’s resilience against emerging threats. Other recent measures, such as designating data centers as critical national infrastructure and introducing the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, aim to bolster the country’s defense in areas like cybersecurity. Together, these steps represent a comprehensive strategy to protect the UK’s most vital services and infrastructure from a broad spectrum of modern security challenges.