UK Government Launches "Prepare" Guidance and New GOV.UK App: What It Means for Your Safety and Security

The UK Government has launched two major initiatives designed to strengthen public safety, security, and community resilience: the Prepare website and the new GOV.UK mobile app. Both aim to help people stay safe, informed, and better connected in times of emergency or disruption.

Image: Catch a Thief UK

1. The “Prepare” Campaign – Readiness for Every Household

The Prepare website (prepare.campaign.gov.uk) offers step-by-step guidance to help households and communities plan ahead for emergencies. It encourages sensible preparation – not panic buying – and focuses on practical measures that improve security and resilience.

Key advice includes:

Essential Supplies – Households are advised to keep at least 3 litres of drinking water per person per day, with 10 litres recommended for cooking and hygiene, along with tinned food, a manual tin opener, pet supplies, and baby essentials if needed.

Power & Light – Battery or wind-up torches, radios, and phone power banks are highlighted as vital during blackouts or communication failures.

Emergency Plans – Families are urged to write down key phone numbers, store a printed emergency plan with vital documents, and ensure household members know escape routes and meeting points.

Community Preparedness – Joining local groups, supporting vulnerable neighbours, and signing up to Priority Service Registers (for extra help from utility providers during outages) can save lives.

This guidance is particularly relevant in an age of increasing cyber threats, natural disasters, and infrastructure risks. The government’s message is clear: personal preparedness enhances national security.

2. The New GOV.UK App – Security and Services in Your Pocket

Launched in July 2025, the GOV.UK app is currently in public beta and available on Android and iOS. It aims to give citizens a secure, central point of access to government services – helping individuals manage personal matters more easily while keeping vital information close to hand.

Features include:

Customised dashboard – Select key topics such as benefits, travel, tax, or parenting for quick access.

Localised information – Add your local council’s website using your postcode.

Notifications – Receive updates and reminders about deadlines or service changes.

History tracking – Quickly revisit recently viewed GOV.UK pages.

Coming soon:

An AI-powered assistant to answer questions based on GOV.UK’s 700,000 pages of information.

Integration of digital driving licences and potentially other forms of ID by the end of 2025.

The app is built with cyber security and accessibility in mind, meeting WCAG 2.2 AA, Cyber Essentials Plus, and ISO 27001 standards.

Why This Matters for Security and Safety

Both the Prepare campaign and the GOV.UK app are part of a wider government effort to protect citizens from modern threats. For individuals and communities, this means:

Better Preparedness – Having plans, supplies, and information ready reduces panic and risk during crises.

Stronger Communities – Neighbours looking out for each other strengthens security and resilience.

Digital Safety – A single trusted app reduces reliance on unsafe third-party websites or scam links.

Rapid Response – Alerts and verified updates help people act quickly in emergencies, from cyber attacks to natural disasters.

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At Catch a Thief UK, we believe public awareness is the first line of defence against both crime and crisis. The Prepare guidance ensures households are not caught off guard, while the GOV.UK app offers a secure, centralised tool to prevent misinformation and keep critical services at your fingertips.

We urge readers to:

1. Visit prepare.campaign.gov.uk and create a household emergency plan today.

2. Download the GOV.UK app and explore its features.

3. Share this information with family, friends, and neighbours – security and safety are strongest when we act together.

Preparedness isn’t paranoia – it’s protection.

By taking simple steps now, we can all contribute to a safer, stronger, and more secure United Kingdom.