A Critical Point
Under Pressure 12 June 2026
A Critical Point
It has been a challenging few weeks for the UK and emergency responders following the court case related to the murder of Henry Nowak, the conclusion of the Nottingham attack public inquiry evidence sessions there was the horrific attack in Belfast. Words struggle to sum up the emotion and pain that is evident with each of these situations, and others that we are probably not aware of. But are there any key points to take from what we are experiencing?
The major problem of a lack of trust in authorities is obvious from recent experiences. I believe we are now at a critical point. Some bad decisions have added to these problems and there is widespread mistrust of police, politicians and the media. This has been a growing issue since the Covid-19 pandemic but now it has reached critical levels. Even the most mild mannered person is questioning what information is released. The way things are talked about and the words that are used has become a critical issue. There appears to be a growing disconnect between sections of communities and those preparing and signing off communication.
Finding a way forward is not going to be easy but it has to start with a real understanding of how the communication is affecting people. Linked to that the growth of misinformation and disinformation now means it is widespread. There was an interesting report out this week about the loss of local media and how it correlates to a growth in fake news. If you don’t have this as part of your crisis planning now is the time to refresh and update those plans.
Polarisation in society is being fuelled by misinformation and the way social media is being used by some groups and individuals. It is making the response to situations more and more challenging. We need to understand the fears, concerns and emotions that are involved if there is going to be any way forward. I have serious concerns that attempts to introduce stronger control on social media rather than make things better will make it worse. People already have a lack of trust in what is said. They will find ways to share on other social media. Getting beneath the channel to understand the mindset, attitudes and behaviour is more critical to finding a way forward.
It is clear that managing emergency and crisis situations has changed, is changing and will not be the way we have experienced it in previous years. We have to keep things under review, open to change and understand what is happening around us.
10 Minutes With
In the latest 10 minute conversations, Amanda talks with Advita Patel about her book Decoding Confidence and what the seven habits of confident leaders can mean when people are under pressure. Watch it here.
Where did it go wrong?
There is still time to join Amanda with Professor Lucy Easthope talking about why we have a cycle of getting things wrong, and looking at what should be ‘never forget’ training. Register to join the free online session here.
In Brief:
Citizens brought together from across the EU to consider preparedness have highlighted 20 recommendations. Find out more and read the report here.
Crisis expert Kjell Brataas has co-authored a new report for the Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network titled Deciding the Future of Disaster Sites: A Practical Guide. Find out more here.
An interesting article about Austin Police’s use of an alert system raises key points about messaging and the trust needed in such systems. It was covered in a paper I co wrote with Dan Stoneking, Ed Conley and Kjell Brataas (find it here). Read the details of the events in Austin here.
Dan Stoneking, Vice President of the Emergency Management External Affairs Association, has written an article on why we need to move from talking about preparedness to readiness. Find out more here.
Considering how to manage crises in the Arctic is covered in a recent article with some interesting areas to consider. Read the details here.
False emergency reports have been highlighted as a significant problem as authorities try to deal with flooding in Ghana. Find out more here.
The importance of community radio in emergency and disaster response has been highlighted through work in Jamaica supported by UNESCO. Find out more here.
The latest crisis communication monthly case study has been published and looks at the importance of explaining risk. Find the June edition and previous ones here.
A terrible fire at a school in Kenya has raised issues about why changes have not been made after a similar fire two years earlier. Read more here.
Diary Dates:
On Thursday 18 June at 9.30am Amanda will run the half day workshop looking at Advanced Crisis Communication skills. Contact office@amandacolemancomms.co.uk for information.