Shoppers are being asked to put security at the top of their
‘must have’ lists this Christmas.
With the festive rush about to get underway, Counter Terrorism
Policing is today, Monday 19th November, launching its
biggest-ever winter advertising campaign as part of ACT: Action
Counters Terrorism.
While there is no known increased threat to busy town and city
centres, people flocking to stock up on Christmas gifts will see
police working alongside security personnel to encourage everyone
to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious.
Experts from Counter Terrorism Policing will be asking retailers
and other businesses who operate in crowded places to think about
their contingency plans, asking them to draw up a ‘Sixty Second
Security’ plan which has the power to improve their reaction to
emergencies.
CT Policing has also collaborated with advertising experts, Kong
Media, to reach thousands of UK shoppers with vitally important
safety information.
Across the country, security messaging will appear on advertising
boards and digital screens around crowded Christmas events and
key shopping locations, reminding the public about the crucial
role they play in helping to tackle the terrorist threat.
The winter advertising campaign aims to encourage the public to
remain vigilant, look out for suspicious behaviour and inform
people how to report their concerns, providing a ‘whole society’
approach where police, security staff, retail workers and the
public come together to minimise the chance of attacks and
mitigate the impact they can have.
Launching the campaign, the national Coordinator for Protect and
Prepare, Chief Superintendent Nick Aldworth, said:
“As people are enjoying the festive season they will see a
visible security presence with police patrols and additional
security in crowded places.
“Unpredictable deployments across the UK will also provide an
additional layer of protection, with specially-trained uniformed
and plain clothes officers working to deter, detect and disrupt
hostile reconnaissance and encourage the public and businesses to
be their extra eyes and ears and report anything that doesn’t
feel right.
“This includes asking retailers and other businesses to consider
my ‘Sixty Second Security’ plan, which is a quick checklist of
questions every member of staff should be able to answer in order
to drastically improve reaction times in the event of an
emergency.
“I want staff working in crowded places to know who is appointed
to make decisions on the shop floor, how to enter and exit a
building in an emergency, how to lock down or where to hide if
needs be.
“Last year on Oxford Street we saw a fight at a Tube station
cause panic when people believed that a terrorist attack had
occurred. In the rush to keep themselves safe, some people
suffered serious injuries and businesses were severely disrupted.
“By working alongside those businesses, we have learnt from that
experience and I believe that our sixty second check will better
prepare us to deal with something similar in the future.”
Kong Media CEO, Ross Barrett, said: “Kong Media is proud to
support Counter Terrorism Policing as they launch this year’s
winter campaign. We first offered to help CT Policing after the
terrible and tragic events of 2017 and we’re only too happy to
help again.
“These are important messages for the public to know, so if we
can help police reach thousands more shoppers thanks to our
well-placed advertising boards and digital screens, then we’re
delighted to do so.”
We advise the public to remain vigilant and, if they see or hear
something suspicious, trust their instincts and report it to
police in confidence at gov.uk/ACTor 0800 789
321.
Notes to Editors:
The National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare
Policing, Chief Superintendent Nick Aldworth, will
be available for interview from 6.30am on Monday 19
November. Please contact Counter Terrorism Policing’s Media
Manager Chris Taylor on 07785 417239 or Christopher.taylor@npcc,pnn.police.uk to
arrange an interview.
Specialist advice for companies operating in crowded places, such
as major events, sport stadia, visitor attractions, bars,
theatres and shopping centres, is available on the National Counter Terrorism
Security Office (NaCTSO) websitealong with CT Policing’s
new ACT
Awarenesse-Learning tool. The tool, developed to provide
nationally accredited counter terrorism guidance helps industry
better understand, and mitigate against, current terrorist
methodology. The training takes just 45 minutes to complete and
could save lives.
Sixty Second Security is a quick list of security-minded
questions that all security and crowded places staff should know
the answers to in order to improve reactions to emergency
situations.
Sixty Second Security Check List:
- Who is appointed to make decisions on the shop floor, and do
they know what they’re doing?
- How do you enter and exit the building in emergency?
- How do you lock down quickly?
- Where can you hide?
- How do you communicate and how do you stay updated if you
find yourself in a RHT scenario?
- Have you briefed your staff?
