Centre for the Public Understanding of Defence and Security
A partner in the national conversation on defence, security and resilience.
Bringing together government, industry, local authorities, emergency services, civil society and academia, the Centre provides a forum for informed debate, education and engagement on the issues that will shape the UK's security in the twenty-first century.
Working with experts from the Strategy and Security Institute and beyond, CPUDS contributes to a whole-of-society approach to resilience, preparedness and homeland defence. Through research, publications, events, education and training, the Centre connects scholarship, policy and practice, helping to build the knowledge, partnerships and capabilities needed to meet an increasingly complex and uncertain security environment.
Defence Conversation: CPUDS news and opinion
Whole of society: building homeland defence and resilience for all
We are delighted to launch this new and innovative Executive Education course taking a place-based approach to regional readiness and preparedness.
Open to middle to senior level decision-makers from across the public, private and third sector, this course equips participants to contribute towards the government commitment set out in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review to promote a ‘whole of society’ effort to ensure homeland defence, national security and civil resilience.
Latest CPUDS publications and briefings
Putting Homeland Defence in its Place: Educating and Exercising, from Whole-of-Nation to Whole-of-Region
Paul Mason, Frances Tammer, Harry Pitts
The UK Defence Investment Plan, 2026: the Return of the Walking Dead?
Professor Paul Cornish, Peter Roberts, Philip Lester, Ewan Lawson and Paul Hough
Making Sense of Home Defence: From Planning to Practice
Frances Tammer, Frederick Harry Pitts and Gareth Stansfield
South West Home Defence Conference
On 12 October 2026 CPUDS Academics collaborated with Joint Military Command SW to host the South West Home Defence Conference.