0003230
G.F. 323
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round the perimeter, so a major fire devastating a considerable area is less likely than it was. Even a limited fire may provide an excuse to inspect neighbouring buildings which may have been rendered unsafe or be inherently unsafe because of faults in construction. On the whole it is
likely that the area affected by a fire will be small and possibly inaccessible because it is in the centre of the City.
11.
Building Collapse.
Little is known of the standards of construction but there are grounds for supposing that few of the new buildings would satisfy the Building Regulations because of inadequate foundations and unsound building methods. Rusting of the steel framework is a possible hazard though this may take some years to manifest itself. Again, the area affected may be limited but an excuse may be provided to inspect and condemn neighbouring and similar properties. It might be possible to seize a reasonable area to include access to the outside, but it would be a matter of delicate judgement as to how far the power to condemn buildings could be exercised, although the Courts would be unlikely to challenge any recommendations for condemnation.
12.
Aircraft Crash. This would provide the best opportunity since the area of devastation would be great. Not only the Walled City but the whole of the Nunnery Site and possibly neighbouring areas might be affected.
13.
Outbreak of Disease. It is thought unlikely that this would provide an adequate occasion for intervention, since routine action would be merely by way of inoculation on a large scale.
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Large Scale Vice and Crime. Policing within the City is now on a scale comparable with that outside. There is little likelihood of an adequate excuse arising from this cause. In any case, intervention on such grounds would be unlikely to have large public support and could therefore be unacceptable on political and security grounds.
15.
Arising out of a Court Case. There is known to be considerable confusion about the ownership of land and buildings within the Walled City which could possibly lead to court cases and action by the Court Bailiff or intervention by Government if Crown Land or a serious breach of lease conditions were involved. No such cases have however been recorded so far and it is impossible to forecast the extent to which Government might be involved or provided with grounds for intervention.
16.
Public Demand. could build up
(a)
There are two ways in which public pressure
Resentment at being left out of the development of the surrounding Nunnery Site could change the opinion of the residents of the City, particularly if carefully fostered by publicity and propaganda;
(b) The development of the Nunnery Site will entail pile driving
and an increase of heavy traffic around the City. These could lead to apprehension about the safety of buildings which could be exploited.
Action to be Taken
Command and Control
17.
There are three distinct aspects :-
(a)
Saving of life and property, which is adequately covered by normal action by the Police and emergency services;
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/ (b)