RiskUKAugust2017

News Analysis: Counter-Terrorism Procedural Reviews
The briefing consisted of a package devised
by the National Counter-Terrorism Security
Office (NaCTSO) and delivered by Counter-
Terrorism Security Advisors from the North
West Counter-Terrorism Unit (NWCTU).
Project Griffin is a NaCTSO initiative designed
to help protect workers, businesses and
communities from the threat of terrorism.
Launched back in 2004, the initiative builds on
existing partnerships between counterterrorism
police, the Emergency Services and
local companies, helping businesses to improve
their security posture and preparedness plans
and better protect their staff and customers.
In this day and age, companies have to guard
against a variety of potential threats ranging
from crude attacks by lone attackers inspired
by terrorist or extremist political ideologies
through to sophisticated and directed plots
requiring significant planning and resources.
Sense of perspective
Detective Chief Superintendent Scott Wilson,
the national police co-ordinator for Protect and
Prepare, said: “Project Griffin has been a vitally
important strand of our policing strategy for
more than a decade, but the recent atrocities in
Manchester and London have brought into
sharp focus the necessity for the police and our
partners in industry to work even more closely
together. I’m delighted to see that this
partnership is flourishing in the North West,
and I’m absolutely sure this is typical of the
close relationship police forces around the
country share with local businesses.”
Wilson continued: “While there’s no specific
intelligence to suggest that an attack is
imminent, the threat from terrorism is ‘Severe’
and that means an attack is highly likely. It’s
important to keep a sense of perspective,
though. Our aim is to move public thinking from
an irrational fear of terrorism to a rational
concern, whereby the nature of the current
threat is better understood and staff members
know what to do if they find themselves
involved at the scene of a terrorist incident or if
they should witness the preparations for a
future attack. This may include recognising and
reporting suspicious behaviour, dealing with a
suspect package or reacting to a firearms or
weapons attack, even though such events are,
thankfully, quite rare.”
In addition, Wilson stated: “We’ve recently
renewed our crowded places guidance to
ensure that both the public and industry have
the most up-to-date information on how to
mitigate the risk from terrorism.”
Vaughan Allen, CEO of CityCo (the city centre
management company for Manchester and
“The threat posed to the UK from terrorism is complex and
ranges from lone actors carrying out simple, but deadly
attacks to networks plotting more co-ordinated activities”
Salford), explained: “Since the tragic night of
the bombing at the Manchester Arena, CityCo
has been working with businesses to keep the
city open and help ensure that everyone
working in, living in and visiting Manchester
feels safe. It’s a sign of how seriously
businesses take the need for their staff to be as
well informed as possible that this Project
Griffin event is one of the largest-ever counterterrorism
awareness events organised in the
UK. CityCo will continue to work with our
partners at the NWCTU and the Greater
Manchester Police in the months ahead, rolling
out further training and ensuring businesses
have up-to-date and accurate advice to hand.”
Travel sector training
The travel industry is providing training for staff
working in the UK and overseas in a bid to help
keep holidaymakers safe this summer. Over
23,000 employees have attended education
sessions, which include detailed advice on how
to spot suspicious items and activities, as well
as what to do in the event of a major incident.
The programme is being run in partnership
with the NaCTSO which has created a short
presentation offering travel companies an easyto-deliver
counter-terrorism awareness product.
This covers the core counter-terrorism guidance
required by staff working in crowded places
either at home or abroad.
The product – which is funded by the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office – includes three new
films which show staff what to expect and how
to respond in the safest way possible to the
terrorist threat: ‘Identify and Respond to
Suspicious Behaviour’, ‘Identify and Deal with
Suspicious Items’ and ‘How to React to
Firearms or Weapons Attacks’.
The presentation is accompanied by a helpful
two-page leaflet which can be printed and
distributed as an aide memoire for staff and
refers to the ACT: Action Counters Terrorism
guidelines for reporting any suspicious
behaviour or items.
In addition to this industry-specific training,
holidaymakers travelling abroad this summer
are also being urged to watch a new video
designed to help keep them safe in the event of
a terrorist attack. This film is four minutes long
and outlines key actions to take if terrorists
strike. The message is ‘Run, Hide, Tell’, which
was first launched by UK police in late 2015.
David Anderson QC
Home Secretary Amber Rudd
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