Report: Institutional security reform needed

A cross-government committee should be set up to de-politicise decision-making on security issues, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) says.

A report published today in the thinktank's journal accuses successive governments of short-term choices.

It attacks the "flabby and bogus strategic thinking" which dominates in Whitehall and says history and experience are neglected in favour of "group think" and "ideological projects".

"There is no coherent and comprehensive mechanism for the analysis of risks and
threats within government that the electorate can see to exist, and so rely on," the report states.

"When the unexpected occurs, the response to it is likely to be incoherent and ad hoc: short-termist and uncertain.

"This encourages government to 'spin' and manipulate, to cover the shortfall in
real strength and coherence with public relations ploys. This will play into our enemies' strengths," it adds.

Instead the RUSI proposes a Cabinet committee made up of ministers, service personnel and other officials to assess any security-related issues.

This should not be chaired by the prime minister, it says, as the committee must be seen to be distant from the executive. A joint committee of both houses of parliament should monitor its activities.

The Home Office said it was preparing a response to the report.

But Conservative shadow security minister Baroness Neville-Jones said the report sent a "powerful message" showing the government lacked leadership.

"It points to the dangerous decline in our sense of national identity, the loss of public confidence in our institutions and loss of sense of direction," she said.

"Conservatives agree that multiculturalism has been a disaster for national cohesion and has increased our vulnerability to the terrorist threat."