Skip to main content
Service phase: Beta

This is a new way to search our records, which we're still working on. Alternatively you can search our existing catalogue, Discovery.

Series

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Government Decontamination and...

Catalogue reference: MAF 762

What's it about?

MAF 762

This series contains policy and administrative records relating to the formation and operations of the Government Decontamination Service.

Full description and record details

Reference

MAF 762

Title
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Government Decontamination and Recovery Service (GDRS Prefix Series)
Date

2003-2005

Description

This series contains policy and administrative records relating to the formation and operations of the Government Decontamination Service.

Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Former department reference

GDRS

Legal status

Public Record(s)

Language

English

Creator(s)
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2001-2001
Physical description

2 file(s)

Access conditions

Open unless otherwise stated

Immediate source of acquisition

From 2021 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Accruals

Series is accruing

Administrative / biographical background

The Government Decontamination Service (GDS) is an organisation within the UK Government which provides advice and guidance to help the UK resist and recover from any deliberate or accidental release of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear materials (CBRN) or from major accidental releases of hazardous materials (HAZMAT).

The Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) allocated Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs lead government responsibilities for managing the consequences of a CBRN incident arising from terrorist and some non-terrorism causes. Home Office has lead responsibility for a CBRN terrorism during the counter terrorism phase. Responsibility for dealing with an immediate emergency rests with local Police and Emergency Services.

GDS was established as an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and since 1 April 2009 it was a constituent part of the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA). However, GDS responsibilities were absorbed back into Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 1 August 2014.

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C17473349/

Catalogue hierarchy

Over 27 million records

This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

184,561 records

Within the department: MAF

Records created or inherited by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Departments,...

You are currently looking at the series: MAF 762

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Government Decontamination and Recovery Service (GDRS Prefix Series)