Peter Power (crisis management specialist)
Encyclopedia
Peter Power is a British crisis management specialist and has advised many organisations in his area of speciality.
in 1971. His service in that force included the Special Patrol Group
and attachments to the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch
and other front line units. In 1990 he transferred on promotion to Dorset. He retired from Dorset in 1993.
In 1995 Power set up his own company in central London, Visor Consultants.
and also designed several mnemonics for dealing with terrorist bombs during the Provisional Irish Republican Army
campaign. He is quoted in the UK government guide, "A Guide to GIS Applications in Integrated Emergency Management" and he is the author of many other advice guidebooks including the original UK government (Department of Trade and Industry) booklet "Business Continuity Management - Preventing Chaos in a Crisis". On 23 November 1984 Power was trapped with others on the London Underground
during a serious Oxford Circus fire
that started at that station and spread along the Victoria Line
. He helped to prevent panic amongst other passengers and subsequently led many people to safety.
Institute London Forum. He is in addition, a Special Advisor to the editorial board of Continuity Professional Magazine in the USA and is listed in the UK Register of Expert Witnesses. He is a Fellow of numerous industry associations and member of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London
.
and BBC
TV news regarding a crisis management simulation exercise his company allegedly ran on this day, working in the premises of a private company in the City of London
, using a scenario very similar to the 7 July 2005 London bombings
. Power said this was a coincidence and was based on the previous terrorist incidents in London, including 18 bombs already detonated on the London Underground
since 1885 (see Attacks on the London Underground
). An investigation by the BBC series The Conspiracy Files
identified the client Power's company worked for that day delivering a simulation
exercise. It examined allegations about his company and others, involved in an alleged UK government "cover up" similar to 9/11 conspiracy theories
. Power has always denied this and the programme found no evidence to support such allegations.
Personal history
Peter Power was born in the UK in 1951. He served in the 10 Battalion Parachute Regiment Territorial Army 1969 - 1971 before joining the Metropolitan PoliceMetropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
in 1971. His service in that force included the Special Patrol Group
Special Patrol Group
The Special Patrol Group was a unit of Greater London's Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for providing a centrally-based mobile capability for combating serious public disorder and crime that could not be dealt with by local divisions....
and attachments to the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch
Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch
The Anti-Terrorist Branch was a Specialist Operations branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service, formed to respond to terrorist activities within the capital....
and other front line units. In 1990 he transferred on promotion to Dorset. He retired from Dorset in 1993.
In 1995 Power set up his own company in central London, Visor Consultants.
Achievements
He received several commendations for leadership etc.. and in 1985 became the primary author of the Gold Silver Bronze command structureGold Silver Bronze command structure
A gold–silver–bronze command structure is used by emergency services of the United Kingdom to establish a hierarchical framework for the command and control of major incidents and disasters...
and also designed several mnemonics for dealing with terrorist bombs during the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
campaign. He is quoted in the UK government guide, "A Guide to GIS Applications in Integrated Emergency Management" and he is the author of many other advice guidebooks including the original UK government (Department of Trade and Industry) booklet "Business Continuity Management - Preventing Chaos in a Crisis". On 23 November 1984 Power was trapped with others on the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
during a serious Oxford Circus fire
Oxford Circus fire
The Oxford Circus fire occurred on Friday 23 November 1984 at 9:50 p.m. at the London Underground Oxford Circus station. Oxford Circus station is in the heart of London's shopping district and is served by three deep-level tube lines; the Bakerloo Line, Central Line and Victoria Lines...
that started at that station and spread along the Victoria Line
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
. He helped to prevent panic amongst other passengers and subsequently led many people to safety.
Current roles
Power is a Special Advisor to a number of key organisations including the Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness and the Business ContinuityBusiness continuity
Business continuity is the activity performed by an organization to ensure that critical business functions will be available to customers, suppliers, regulators, and other entities that must have access to those functions. These activities include many daily chores such as project management,...
Institute London Forum. He is in addition, a Special Advisor to the editorial board of Continuity Professional Magazine in the USA and is listed in the UK Register of Expert Witnesses. He is a Fellow of numerous industry associations and member of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
7 July 2005
Power spoke on ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
and BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV news regarding a crisis management simulation exercise his company allegedly ran on this day, working in the premises of a private company in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, using a scenario very similar to the 7 July 2005 London bombings
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
. Power said this was a coincidence and was based on the previous terrorist incidents in London, including 18 bombs already detonated on the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
since 1885 (see Attacks on the London Underground
Attacks on the London Underground
This is a list of deliberate attacks on the infrastructure, staff or passengers of the London Underground that have caused considerable damage, injury or death.-1885 Gower Street bombing:...
). An investigation by the BBC series The Conspiracy Files
The Conspiracy Files
The Conspiracy Files is a British documentary television series broadcast on BBC Two, investigating various modern day conspiracy theories...
identified the client Power's company worked for that day delivering a simulation
Simulation
Simulation is the imitation of some real thing available, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system....
exercise. It examined allegations about his company and others, involved in an alleged UK government "cover up" similar to 9/11 conspiracy theories
9/11 conspiracy theories
9/11 conspiracy theories are theories that disagree with the widely accepted account that the September 11 attacks were perpetrated solely by al-Qaeda. These theories arose because of what proponents of the conspiracy theories believe to be inconsistencies in the official conclusions or some...
. Power has always denied this and the programme found no evidence to support such allegations.
External links
- About Peter Power
- BBC - Organising forward command. Kings Cross 18 November 1987
- BBC - Preparing for a crisis
- Risk and Continuity: Convergence is in the Air...
- BBC - Discussing the impact of terrorism on London
- BBC - Brixton Riots
- Crisis Management teams ‘who needs them?’ Experts.com
- Crisis. What crisis? The Lawyer.com