Student rejects government demand to remove his spoof website

A STUDENT has refused to take down a spoof website which pokes fun at the government’s Preparing For Emergencies booklet, which was launched earlier this week.

Thomas Scott claims he received a "firmly worded" e-mail from the Cabinet Office 12 hours after he launched his website asking him to remove it.

The fake website www.preparingforemergencies.co.uk bears an uncanny resemblance to the real thing but instead of coming from HM Government, comes from HM Department of Vague Paranoia.

The 19-year-old York University linguistics student said he did it as a joke and has no intention of taking it down.

The government’s advice for what to do in the event of a terrorist attack included stocking up on essential items and tuning into the radio. Extracts from the spoof website include:

"If you are involved in any emergency it is important to run like hell, particularly if you caused the emergency. Trample all others in your desperate attempt to escape. Loot on the way out."

"By being prepared and understanding the basics of First Aid, the public can be of great help until the emergency services arrive to take over. Unfortunately, because of all the budget cuts and red tape, that could be a while."

"If people are seriously injured call 999 immediately, even though if it’s a terrorist attack you probably won’t be able to get through anyway."

Mr Scott, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, said: "I got a firmly worded e-mail asking me to take it down. I’m not sure if it was from someone high up or a low-level civil servant.

"Whoever it was they don’t have a sense of humour. It is quite obviously a parody and I don’t think anybody is going to be confused by it."

Mr Scott said he had received 200 e-mails from the general public backing his spoof site.

"I just did it as a stupid joke, I never knew it would turn into this. The response has been amazing."

A spokeswoman from the Cabinet Office said the real website contained a serious message and it was important that the public were not confused.

She added: "We are aware of the website and are taking advice."

She was unable to confirm that Mr Scott had been ordered to take down his website. The government’s website can be found at www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk