Britain Plans Civilian Home Guard Force to Shield Infrastructure in New 'Pre-War' Strategy

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Britain Plans Civilian Force to Shield Infrastructure in New 'Pre-War' Strategy

 

The UK government is preparing to launch a modern version of the wartime Home Guard as part of a sweeping defence overhaul designed to confront rising global threats. Thousands of civilian volunteers may be recruited to protect key infrastructure sites across the country, from nuclear power stations and telecom facilities to vital energy hubs and undersea internet cable landings, under proposals set out in the upcoming Strategic Defence Review (SDR).

 

 

This modern Home Guard, inspired by the citizens’ militia formed in 1940 to defend against Nazi invasion, would form part of a broader national strategy focused on homeland security and resilience. Officials behind the plan say it reflects the gravity of the current geopolitical landscape, describing it as a “pre-war era” marked by growing tensions with an axis of hostile states including Russia, Iran and North Korea.

 

According to senior government sources, the volunteer force will be tasked with safeguarding critical infrastructure from potential sabotage or attack by enemy states or terrorist operatives. Recent events, such as the fire that disrupted operations at Heathrow Airport, are cited as evidence of the need for increased protection of essential facilities. While Britain is not facing an imminent military invasion, officials acknowledge that the threat of hybrid or "greyzone" attacks—particularly from Russia—has revealed vulnerabilities in national infrastructure that must be addressed urgently.

 

The SDR, expected to be released within weeks, will lay out a comprehensive vision for strengthening national defence both at home and abroad. The document is also expected to pave the way for further military investments and strategic shifts. Among the key developments are plans for a new generation of nuclear-powered hunter submarines—dubbed SSN-Aukus—as part of Britain’s trilateral defence pact with the United States and Australia. These vessels would replace the ageing fleet of seven Astute-class submarines and bolster underwater defence capabilities.

 

In parallel, Defence Secretary John Healey is pushing to reverse years of military downsizing by increasing the British Army’s headcount to 76,000, up from the current target of 72,500. The move is part of a broader push to address what critics have described as decades of underinvestment and erosion in the UK’s armed forces.

 

A new national security strategy, led by National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and foreign policy expert John Bew, will complement the SDR in the lead-up to a major NATO summit in June. There, former US President Donald Trump is widely expected to renew calls for higher defence spending among European allies. A follow-up defence capability command paper is also due this autumn, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her spending review. That document will outline how the UK intends to implement its new defence programmes in detail.

 

As for the new Home Guard, officials say the force will be composed of civilians drawn from local communities across the UK, operating in regional hubs. Though distinct from the army reserves, it is expected to share a similar structure and work closely with existing agencies like the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, an armed police unit responsible for securing the nation’s nuclear sites. Details of recruitment, training and deployment will be finalized by the Ministry of Defence in the coming months.

 

The original Home Guard, known initially as the Local Defence Volunteers, was formed during the Second World War and eventually swelled to more than 1.5 million members. Comprising mostly men deemed too old or too young for front-line combat, their role was to provide a last line of defence in the event of invasion. They also patrolled industrial sites, transportation links, and maintained order on the home front.

 

Today’s iteration may serve a different purpose, but the driving logic remains consistent: a citizen force ready to respond to threats against the nation’s vital lifelines. As Britain rethinks its place in an increasingly unstable world, the return of the Home Guard signals a significant shift in how the country prepares for the challenges ahead.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-19

 

 

[faraday]

Great Idea, but why not call this army: INGSOC?

 

Make Orwell proud.

 

"War is peace...." etc.

[dinsdale]

[JAG]

We used to have one during the latter part of the cold war, when the threat of sabotage and disruption from the Soviet Union both in war and in transition to war was significant.

 

It was called the Home Service Force. Recruited largely if not exclusively from ex forces members, I had some dealings with it in a couple of staff jobs, they were effective, and of course came "already trained".

 

It was effective and very cheap. Chopped very quickly as part of the "peace dividend".

 

Quite a number of European countries, particularly those nearer the North and East of the continent maintain similar "Home Guard" organisations.

 

"Don't tell him Pike"!

[frank83628]

What global threats?

 

[coolcarer]

Great idea. Keep the Ruskies and Iranians at bay

[Bert got kinky]

2 hours ago, JAG said:

We used to have one during the latter part of the cold war, when the threat of sabotage and disruption from the Soviet Union both in war and in transition to war was significant.

 

It was called the Home Service Force. Recruited largely if not exclusively from ex forces members, I had some dealings with it in a couple of staff jobs, they were effective, and of course came "already trained".

 

It was effective and very cheap. Chopped very quickly as part of the "peace dividend".

 

Quite a number of European countries, particularly those nearer the North and East of the continent maintain similar "Home Guard" organisations.

 

"Don't tell him Pike"!

 

We used to have one during the latter part of the cold war.

We also had a decent regular army until it was cut to ribbons in the name of defence cuts.

The regiment that I served was the British Army's main infantry recruiting regiment until it got chopped from three battalions to one.

The battalion that I served in no longer exists, I feel homeless now. 😠

 

 

[Gandtee]

8 hours ago, dinsdale said:

'We're doomed. Doomed I tell. ye.' 'Don't panic! Don't panic!'