The Civil Defence Act, which was passed on 5 December 1962, deals with the powers and functions of the Director of Civil Defence, regional commissioners, and other officers as well as with the formal declaration of states of national energency and major disaster. It defines the role of Central Government and local authorities, sets out the obligations and powers of the latter, and bestows special emergency powers on the police and civil defence officers.

The Act establishes a National Civil Defence Committee, Advisory Planning Committees, and Regional Civil Defence Committees. The Local Authorities' Emergency Powers Act 1953 was repealed and the Public Safety Conservation Act 1932 amended so as to exclude from the operation of the latter emergencies declared under the Civil Defence Act.