"This report looks at the dynamics which have been created by the perception and communication of risk by policy makers, the media, and individuals in society. It identifies some key questions about how we perceive, understand and respond to risk through regulation. It argues that our national attitude to risk is becoming defensive and disproportionate; that the way we try to manage risk is leading to regulatory overkill. There is an over reliance on Government to manage all risks yet it is neither possible nor desirable to control every risk in life, and personal responsibility and trust must be encouraged. The arguments are illustrated with a range of case-studies that exemplify both the need for change and the benefits of getting it right. The report recommends a public debate about the management of risk involving individual citizens and the media but specifically calls for clear and unambiguous leadership from government to: change our national approach to risk; empower individuals to take more personal responsibility for risk; provide high quality training in risk management for Ministers and senior civil servants; and establish FARO (the Fast Assessment of Regulatory Options) an independent, ad hoc panel for expert, dispassionate, evidence-based examination of urgent calls for government intervention."

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