Counter Terror Business - Perimeter Security

Considering all aspects of perimeter security

Freya — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 13:41:37 +0000

Perimeter security is essential to prevent break ins and break outs. A marked, safe and secure perimeter is crucial to protect any property, especially if the building is high-risk or in a high-risk area

Physical barriers are the most obvious sign of perimeter security, i.e. fences, gates and walls, but there are many other aspects, including technology, security systems, alarms and cameras, and good perimeter security encompasses all of these things.

Physical perimeter security
Physical barriers have been used for thousands of years as an effective way to protect people and property, but nowadays these physical barriers are much more advanced and quicker to install.

Physical security is often the most obvious aspect of perimeter security and often acts as the best deterrent as well. The better your physical perimeter security, the less likely it is that someone will try and break in.

Today, physical perimeter security can range from simple fences and hedges right up to electric gates.

Consider your circumstances
It is important that whatever physical security you are installing, that it matches your specific circumstances with high-risk or sensitive areas obviously needing more protection. Specialist businesses, contractors and consultants can help you to pick the protection that is right for your property, as well as install it.

On this note, it is important to consider physical barriers that can adapt to the requirements of the location in question. This could be rising bollards to prevent access by unauthorised vehicles or an electric gate to keep out unwanted visitors on foot.

One obvious example of an adaptive physical barrier is to consider extra protection at night or at weekends when the premises may be empty. Many premises have a barrier or gate that is only closed overnight to protect the property when there is not the high footfall or human security option present.

However, you need an access control system in order for these to work. This could be in the form of a control panel with a passcode, or for a more secure system, issuing individual access keys or key cards to authorised persons so you know who is entering and when and to prevent something like a passcode being shared across too wide an area. Individual keycards also help to improve fire safety measures and evacuation procedures as you know who is and isn’t in a building at any one time.

For extremely high-risk areas, you can even consider biometric-enabled access control.

Layers
You should also consider different
layers of perimeter security, the most obvious being the property boundary and the building itself, though there are several other factors to consider in between.

Perimeter security can be alarmed to notify those responsible for security in the case of unauthorised entry.

Perimeter CCTV is also an important consideration. CCTV deters any would be criminals from breaking in in the first place, as they know there will be evidence and they could be identified. It also ensures that the physical barriers are monitored for any vulnerabilities and that the perimeter can be remotely monitored, as well.

Perimeter lighting is an integral part of perimeter security. This is often motion-activated to save energy. Again this acts as a deterrent.

Good perimeter security will encompass all of the above, thought the most important thing is that it is relevant to and suitable for your premises to provide the best security possible or needed on your budget.

Keeping fans safe in the zone

Freya — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 13:37:01 +0000

Perimeter Security

Deborah Ainscough, founder and director of event safety and crowd management specialist, Crowdguard, discusses the growing popularity of fan zones in stadium grounds and the need to consider safety and security for these temporary facilities

The FIFA Women’s World Cup has kicked off down under, the eyes of the world are not only on how we secure football matches, but also how we enable fans across the world to enjoy the shared experience of watching the action on a big screen and sharing both the joy of victory and the anguish of defeat.

Fan zones have become an increasingly popular concept for major tournaments, landmark friendlies and league matches alike, providing an opportunity to generate revenue and bring the fan community together.

Whether a fan zone is there to enable fans to enjoy a shared match experience for far away fixtures, as it will be during the FIFA Women’s World Cup, or as a place for fans to congregate before and after a home game, security risks need to be addressed as part of the planning process to provide a welcoming environment for fans before, during and after the match, while addressing the counter terrorism risk.

Extending the duty of care beyond the stadium
While most club owners and stadium operators already have robust security measures and risk assessment protocols in place for their actual stadium, managing the crowds outside of the stadium but still within the grounds can be more challenging. Fan zones are often located in these areas within the perimeter of the stadium’s grounds, but outside the protection of the stadium. During fan zone opening hours, pedestrians need to be able to access the area easily, while vehicular access must be prevented and fans – potentially thousands of them – need to be protected from errant vehicles and vehicle-as-a-weapon attacks.

Specification & Risk
To create a pedestrian-permeable perimeter that enables fans to flow in and out of the fan zone while protecting them from errant vehicles and vehicle as a weapon attacks, an IWA 14-1 certified HVM (hostile vehicle mitigation) system is usually required. The correct specification and configuration of HVM will depend on the level of risk for a specific site, and a threat vulnerability and risk assessment (TVRA) will consider all elements of risk so that the HVM provider can recommend a best-fit solution. This should take into account factors including the layout and topography of the site, the anticipated number of visitors and required flow rates, and vehicle dynamics, such as the likely velocity and mass of a vehicle on approach to the pre-determined location and any stopping distances relevant to the crowded space and fan zone. Specifying the correct HVM system or combination of systems should always be aligned to risk, with any variation from the ‘as tested’ configuration of the HVM system, or additional risk factors due to value engineering, clearly explained in writing by the provider.

Ease and speed of deployment
For temporary event spaces like fan zones, a surface-mounted HVM system is usually the preferred option because this can be installed and removed quickly and easily with no damage to the road surface and without the disruption of civil engineering works. The time it takes to install a HVM system varies depending on the amount of protection required and the system used, but it can be as fast as five minutes for a single array of a system designed for rapid installation, or a day (or overnight) programme for a more complex and larger HVM installs.

Regardless of which system is used, it is essential that the HVM solution is installed in line with the specification by trained technicians to quality assured and clearly documented processes. This includes a photographic record of the project. Installation should always be an integral part of the specification and supply contract because HVM performance relies on correct deployment. It is akin to packing a parachute – you would want an expert to pack it to feel assured it would keep you safe and the same principles apply to keeping fans safe at the stadium.

Temporary vehicular access
Although the purpose of an HVM system is to prevent vehicles from accessing the location, consideration needs to be given to whether there will need to be authorised vehicular access to the fan zone area at any point. This could include a requirement to allow delivery vehicles, the potential for emergency vehicles to be called to site, or even for normal access to car park areas on non-match days. Vehicle access plates can be included in the installation of some HVM systems to enable vehicles to move freely in the area for maintenance and delivery at times when the fan zone is not in use, or to allow rapid access should blue light services be required. Building this type of flexibility into stadium safety and security enables the installation to remain in place for the entire football season, while adapting to different safety and operational requirements.

Customisation & aesthetics
Alongside their safety and security function, HVM systems at fan zones also provide an opportunity to enhance the environment with branding, signage, wayfinding or advertising. A key consideration for fan zone security is not just how much the physical measures in place improve safety, but how much they make people feel safer, so there is a balance to be struck between selecting a solution that visibly provides protection and one that maintains a welcoming aesthetic. Fan zones exist to celebrate the power of sport to bring people together, and HVM systems can embrace that principle through customisation. Options include club or tournament branding, information, wayfinding or ads – or a combination of these.

Fencing and turnstiles
If access to the fan zone is ticketed, crowd management for ticket checks must also be factored into the planning and safety provision. Temporary fencing or hoarding can also be used to segregate the fan zone area from other locations within the stadium’s grounds too. Again, it is important to consider any requirements for vehicular access and controlled pedestrian access so that appropriate vehicle access gates, pedestrian gates or pedestrian turnstiles can be incorporated into the installation.

Quality-assured deployment by experienced technicians is equally important when temporary fencing or hoarding is installed for fan zones, ensuring that temporary systems are correctly configured, secured and ballasted to provide the protection of a permanent fixture with a temporary installation.

Protecting the stadium’s greatest asset
Vehicle-as-a-weapon attacks are a low complexity methodology used by terrorists to target crowded spaces with the potential to cause mass casualties and serious injury. HVM protection has an important role to play in protecting the stadium’s most important assets – the fans.

PIDSs and the HSM are pivotal to perimeter security

Freya — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 14:55:28 +0000

Perimeter Security

In a Q&A session with Counter Terror Business, David Owen, the recently appointed country manager for the UK at Heras, talks about a move to a standardised product portfolio, puts the spotlight on perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDSs) and explains how its Heras Security Model (HSM) is fundamental to securing the perimeters of UK sites of national or strategic importance Please can you give us a brief introduction to the company and what it does? Heras is Europe’s leading end-to-end supplier of permanent and mobile perimeter protection solutions – and from our UK headquarters in Doncaster, we design, manufacture, install and service perimeter protection solutions for governments, local authorities, warehousing and distribution hubs, stadia, public spaces, utility companies, and UK infrastructure sites – such as power stations. We are the only UK company that offers a full portfolio of perimeter protection products and full nationwide coverage to support the customers we partner with. Our perimeter protection solutions comprise products and services including demarcation, entrance control and detection products and integrated systems. Please can you explain your role at the company and your experience? I joined Heras from the oil and gas industry, where I oversaw capacity realignment and expansion projects around the world. I’ve been part of a team that has transitioned to a more standardised and simplified product portfolio – and over the last 12 months, everyone at Heras has been focused on the common goal of serving the needs of our UK customer base. This is reflected in the positive performance of the business in the UK. What is the company’s focus at the moment? Are there any particular priorities? In terms of Heras, the main focus over the last 12 months has been to reconnect with, and foster a much more collaborative and partnering approach with our customers. We don’t just help them protect what they value the most – we also help with perimeter solutions that place safety at the heart of what they do: that’s the safety of staff, visitors, contractors and even intruders. In terms of the bigger picture, the world has changed. We are seeing the results of underinvestment in security in both the public and private sectors not just in the UK but through our businesses right across Europe. There is a gap in required standards, especially, for example, in national interest infrastructure, such as energy and power distribution, but also in commercial interest areas, such as data centres. With regard to the UK, what type of client do you tend to work with and what kind of projects do you do? At one end of the spectrum, we supply perimeter fence lines and automatic gates for warehouses and distribution hubs, fences for schools and turnstiles for sports stadia. At the other end, we are heavily involved in the supply of perimeter systems and solutions for parts of the UK’s critical infrastructure – basically, projects that we can’t openly talk about where the government wants to keep people out or keep people in! One of the key ways that these sites keep people out (or in) is by using perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDSs) – which are usually installed on the fence fabric to detect any potential intruders attempting to enter the site by climbing over, cutting through or even going under the fence. When an intrusion at the perimeter meets the alarm criteria, PIDSs will transmit an alarm signal directly to an alarm panel and/or integrated software management system (SMS) so that the onsite security team (or designated staff) can verify, and act upon, the alarm in an appropriate and timely manner. Are you able to give us an example of a recent project? If not, could you give us a hypothetical idea of a project that you might carry out? Every project starts by taking customers through the Heras Security Model (HSM), which considers all the different possible scenarios. We can use our model to assign the relevant security level to each aspect of the perimeter security system and then propose the pertinent products to achieve that security level. Part of the HSM is the site survey, where we can establish the needs in terms of a new system, upgrade, renewal or replacement. The site survey looks at the complexities of the site. A recent project was as fascinating as it was challenging for two reasons. The first was that the site was too big for one system. Therefore, the site was split into three distinct zones that feed into two control rooms that monitor PIDSs, CCTV, thermal imaging, electrified sections of fencing, and gates. Quite simply, the site cannot afford to have a control room go down. The second was that the site has three rings of fencing. There’s the perimeter fence line, primary internal fencing and then secondary internal fencing. This is almost unprecedented in our industry, but there are three layers of demarcation, deterrent, detection, delay and denying unauthorised access for good reason. One final point to mention is safety and compliance. Heras has products within our portfolio that meet industry standards and regulations in accordance with the CPNI (Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure), CAPSS (Cyber Assurance of Physical Security Systems) and NOMS (National Offender Management Service).

Protecting people as we reinvent the high street

Michael Lyons — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 09:52:09 +0000

Perimeter Security

Deborah Ainscough discusses the relaxation of planning requirements for pop up markets and hospitality businesses, along with the perimeter protection considerations involved

After so many aspects of our daily lives were compromised or put on hold for so long during the pandemic, this summer looks set to be the time we finally get back to normal. Holidays abroad are taking off again, music festivals happening in fields up and down the country and bars and restaurants are welcoming people back, kickstarting the night-time economy.

But the pandemic has brought lasting change far beyond the individual tragedies and public health impacts. Although some people have been excited to get back to the high street and enjoy shopping again, online shopping habits have become entrenched, leading to exponential growth in internet shopping and an accelerated decline for bricks and mortar retail.

For both national and local government, the high street retail landscape is a significant concern. Alongside the vacant properties caused by shop closures, a struggling retail sector also means reduced footfall for cafes, bars, restaurants and leisure outlets and quiet urban centres. The issue has led to a decision from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to make temporary rules on the use of outdoor spaces into permanent legislation. Under new planning rules, markets can be held more often, and hospitality businesses can erect marquees on their own land without requiring planning permission, making it easier for both local authorities and the leisure sector to attract footfall into towns and cities.

But creating opportunities for economic activity and leisure comes with a responsibility to keep people safe. The consultation for the UK Protect Duty legislation has now been completed and, as we await the draft bill, it is clear that any private businesses and/ or events in the public realm classed as publicly accessible locations (PAL) are likely to have a legal duty to assess and address safety and security risks, with accountability for putting robust measures in place.

At Crowdguard, we are working with the hospitality sector, event organisers and local authorities to help them implement strategies that protect both the public and their own organisations against risk. To support PALs, we provide a detailed report that considers the threat, vulnerability, and risks (TVR) of the protected area, including a vehicle dynamic risk assessment (VDR). We can then suggest an appropriate specification of products and features and identify any residual security concerns.

Commercial opportunities
The success of Christmas markets and farmers markets was already building into a clear trend for lifestyle pop-up markets before the pandemic, where people could buy items direct from the maker. The drive to support local businesses, the rediscovery of the benefits of shopping local, and the potential for people create new businesses or adapt their existing companies during the pandemic have created huge potential to build on the appetite for artisan markets.

Markets offer an excellent opportunity to generate footfall that can provide a positive boost for bricks and mortar shops and hospitality businesses, but the challenge for local authorities is that markets present a potential security issue. Terror attacks on Christmas markets and the vulnerability of crowds in unprotected locations, many of which are not permanently pedestrianised, indicate a need to consider risk mitigation and public safety along with practical and aesthetic implications.

The pandemic has been a gamechanger for the whole concept of outdoor dining in the UK too. Once again, however, bringing people together in locations that were never originally intended as dining areas brings with it safety and security considerations, which must be addressed if hospitality venues are to keep people safe and guests are to dine in a relaxed, secure environment.

Delivering tailored and flexible security solutions
There is a balance to be struck between creating a secure environment for temporary retail and hospitality facilities and enabling people to enjoy their leisure time without undue concern about safety. While vigilance is important, the move towards pop-up markets and outdoor dining environments is all about enhancing the high street experience so our approach to security must be proportionate and sympathetic.

Specification should begin with a collaborative process, working with the local authority or property owner to establish the nature of the event or location, anticipated footfall, practical requirements, aesthetic preferences, and potential risk factors. This is an essential step in understanding the vulnerabilities of the location to inform a detailed risk assessment process, while ensuring that operational and commercial factors are built into the solution.

The right solution should integrate authorised vehicular access points which allow entry for emergency vehicles, to use one example. This may involve selecting a pedestrian permeable solution that can be configured with authorised vehicle access points to allow vehicular access at certain times of day – for deliveries, for example – or on non-event days. Health and safety must be considered too, with quality assured installation that avoids trip hazards or crowd surges.

Aesthetics are also important. Specification of any perimeter protection or HVM system installed as part of a strategy to attract urban footfall must consider the need to make people feel welcome and safe. The right solution can be integral to this aim, with customisation to enable wayfinding, information, decorative graphics, branding or advertising. Some even accommodate integration with street furniture, such as planters, benches, and bins.

The long-term impact of the installation on the property or public realm location must be factored into the choice of protection too. We would always suggest trialling schemes with a temporary, surface-mounted solution prior to a design or scheme that may require a socketed solution with a foundation that demands design and potential planning works. Sometimes a surface-mounted solution is more appropriate if civils works can’t be considered due to heritage sites or the presence of services immediately below that restrict even shallow-mount foundations.

Protection from vehicle as a weapon attacks
Vehicle as a weapon attacks are amongst the most serious vulnerabilities for pop-up events and outdoor dining facilities and the potential risk of errant vehicles should also be factored in to managing this risk.

It is important that the solution specified – or combination of solutions – is based on the level of risk for the location. It is not sufficient to select any IWA14 certified system and take a tick box approach to managing risk: the chosen system(s) must be aligned to the vulnerabilities of the location. The CPNI’s guidance on Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM), demonstrates a sliding-scale of effectiveness for different systems and it is essential to align impact resistance to the level of risk and choose a system that is suitable for installation in a configuration as close as possible to the certification test configuration.

A number of factors can affect the effectiveness of the HVM system, including weather conditions, the topography of the location, the maintenance and condition of the HVM equipment and the calibre of installation, along with the size and speed of any vehicle that may attack. Only by understanding the exact installation conditions and following strict quality assurance processes can the HVM provider offer an ‘as tested’ performance for the project.

Quality of installation is essential to the integrity of any HVM protection and the provider should provide well-maintained equipment, technical expertise and robust quality assurance processes for a variety of equipment so that they can advise on the most suitable solution for the application, location and threat vulnerability risk assessment.

Perimeter Protection
Not all the hospitality businesses or markets affected by the new rules on safety and security need protection from vehicle as a weapon attacks. In some locations, the priority will be to install perimeter protection to prevent unauthorised access, limit numbers for crowd management and capacity purposes, or enable access restrictions to allow an entry charge.

The same operational, cost, aesthetic and impact implications apply, however. Consequently, surface-mounted solutions that offer rapid deployment and removal, flexibility, effective pedestrian and/or vehicular access, and robust loading to ensure the right level of safety for the anticipated crowd capacity provide the most appropriate specification.

Temporary hoarding systems, such as the FenceSafe Hoard system installed by Crowdguard, may be ideal for pop-up markets. Not only do they enable access/egress control, but they are also anti-scale, anti-tamper products with loading gates for authorised vehicles. because they can be customised with graphics, wayfinding, and advertising, while restricting access. A temporary hoarding system could be used to prevent access to the rear of stalls, contributing to the correct flow of pedestrian traffic and effective crowd management, while improving security for stall holders. Fences can also use scrim, which can be branded or used to impede vision.

Responding to evolving requirements
Just like our towns and cities, security threats are constantly evolving, which is why the security industry must take a tailored, quality assured and pragmatic approach to responding to the safety, security and operational needs of every project. An end-to-end service, with technical expertise and quality assurance embedded in projects from specification through to installation, maintenance and removal is vital to keeping people safe, protecting commercial interests and, in the near future, compliance with UK Protect Duty legislation.

Deborah Ainscough is founder and director of crowd management and event safety specialist, Crowdguard, a member of the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association.

Security's role in the future of our high streets

Michael Lyons — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 12:15:30 +0000

Perimeter Security

Iain Moran explains for Counter Terror Business how the coronavirus pandemic has changed the future of the high street

With the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee informed at a January meeting that the lockdown-induced shift towards online retail will likely be permanent, the high street must move its emphasis away from retail and instead become more focused on alternative avenues of use and revenue generation such as leisure and experience-focused activities with the help of new pedestrianised zones.

The pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated changes that were already happening in consumer behaviour. This has presented an exciting opportunity to have another look at our urban landscapes and consider how they might be transformed to better serve the needs and wants of the public.

Last summer, pedestrianisation zones were implemented extensively across the UK and proved to be a great idea, creating new multifunctional spaces for people to gather and socialise. These spaces can be used to provide a much-needed boost to hospitality businesses, or host fun community events, which will be critical when it comes to drawing people back to the high street as things start to return to normal.

The role of physical security in protecting the high street
When creating these new spaces, choosing the right physical security measures, such as bollards and impact-tested street furniture, will be crucial to ensure the public can use and enjoy them with confidence. While this may seem obvious, according to our recent paper, The Future of Urban Design, many architects, it became apparent that specifiers and urban planners feel that not enough is invested in security for the projects that they are working on.

Research revealed that 60 per cent of urban design professionals have concerns about the level of investment in security measures, while 47 per cent feel that their nearest city isn’t safe.

When asked about the barriers to appropriate implementation, the majority (67 per cent) cited insufficient funding, 55 per cent identified a reluctance from local authorities to invest, and 32 per cent had experienced a local unwillingness to have the look of a space spoiled by ‘obtrusive security measures’.

Exploring the potential solutions to these barriers, 53 per cent of those surveyed suggested working in partnership with local authorities and suppliers right from the beginning of a project to determine the most appropriate security measures, while 36 per cent were keen to make use of impact-tested street furniture to counteract any aesthetic concerns.

Returning to normality and seeing our cities and towns bustling with life again once the pandemic comes to an end would be a welcome sight. So, how do we create new safe, public spaces to ensure that a bright future awaits our high streets?

Creating a proportionate security design:
The requirement to facilitate social distancing and the additional pavement space required by hospitality venues to match pre-Covid capacity has resulted in a shift of use in the public realm.

Whenever an area goes through a period of adjustment or a change of use, security measures should be reviewed. The vulnerabilities previously identified to secure our traditional high street set-up might have shifted to present a different set of vulnerabilities.

These new or altered vulnerabilities need to be re-assessed by a security professional who can produce a revised, proportionate security design. Different factors are taken into consideration when producing this type of report:

• Aesthetics:
There are buildings and areas which may call for a strong, physical presence of security measures to deter security incidents. The public realm is not one of these spaces. Varying approaches to aesthetics can be considered. Security measures can be integrated into street furniture or even lettering and artwork to soften the visual impact of security. Measures can also be fitted with aesthetic sleeves in varying designs to include heritage colours or finishes if being placed within a historic town centre.

The impact of security measures can also be lessened if areas within a city or town centre work together on delivering a holistic security scheme. Looking at an area in its totality allows for clever placement of measures to secure key zones. If areas are dissected and land ownership prevents these areas from working together to achieve the end goal, more measures can end up being put into place unnecessarily. The key here is to work with a qualified security consultant and a physical security manufacturer from as early in the process as possible to achieve the best result.

• Stakeholders:
Within the public realm, there are many stakeholders to consider - local authorities, Counter Terror Security Advisors, emergency services, power and utility providers, councillors, and retail consortiums to name just a few. All these groups have different requirements from their section of the public realm.

Each stakeholder group must be consulted to understand the implications of any new or altered security scheme. With security measures having a lifespan of up to 15 years if maintained, the investment in time at the start of the project to ensure that measures meet all requirements and consider any access nuances is time well-spent.

This consultation and collaborative approach could also result in a more successful scheme with all groups being bought into security measures from the very start. This could also result in a more effective operating methodology for security measures.

• Access Requirements:
Taking the time to identify who is using the public realm is important. How many delivery vehicles are moving in and out of city/town centres to sustain the supply chain of shops and hospitality venues.

Does any existing equipment have maintenance measures in place, if so - how often are maintenance contractors needing access to the area? Are there annual events taking place within the space which sees an annual or seasonal increase in visitors? Do hospitality venues have pavement licenses within the area being assessed?

All these questions build up a picture of the types of vehicles accessing an area, how frequently and aims to capture the ‘one-off’ or ‘annual’ visits too. The result of this is to understand the type of security measures which can be implemented.

Are there complete zones which can be secured with fixed security measures so completely pedestrianise and protect an area? Or do demands on the supply and delivery chain within the area prevent this from being possible - do measures in fact have to be automated. If automation is required, the map laying out the types of user and access requirements can assist in building an operational methodology for the area or for individual zones to begin to shape a holistic security plan.

• Proportionate Security:
When considering the types of threat that you are protecting an area from, it is vital that the assessment is proportionate. If an Armageddon approach is taken, measures will be unrealistic, hugely expensive, and will simply not be used.

Proportionate security measures look to protect against likely threats. Within the UK, this would be protecting crowds of people and busy streets against vehicle ramming and VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) attacks. While the global terror threat in the UK remains ‘substantial’, these forms of attack, similar to those seen on Westminster Bridge and Borough Market remain a real threat to our society.

With this in mind, a possibly unrealistic response would be to exclude all types of vehicles from town and city centres completely. While this would certainly create a safer space for pedestrians, this might not be practical to underpin the day-to-day running of businesses and town centre economies. A more proportionate scheme would have to be implemented to accommodate users who still required vehicular access.

Working alongside key stakeholders, security equipment manufacturers can provide proportionate measures to create successful and aesthetically pleasing security schemes to encourage people back to our high streets and make them the centre of our community once more.

Iain Moran is ATG Access’s Sales & Marketing Director. Iain has contributed this article on behalf of the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association.

The security risks of lockdown measures

Michael Lyons — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 15:26:00 +0000

Perimeter Security

On behalf of the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association, Debbie Heald explains why pedestrian security must be top of the agenda if towns and cities want to recover from Covid-19

Throughout most of the lockdown, we’ve been encouraged to meet outdoors to minimise the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Businesses have been impacted by having to restrict the number of people they can have on their premises, and pop up pedestrianised areas have also been implemented across towns and city centres to allow businesses to service their customers outside and those commuting by foot or bike to do so safely.

At the outbreak of the pandemic, lengthy queues outside supermarkets and other essential shops were a regular sight. Months down the line we continue to see queues outside of shops, both on the high street and out of town shopping centres, and with increasing rates of infection and local lockdowns, it’s likely to continue for some while longer. The White Rose in Leeds, for example, has closed one of its car parks to create a one-way system for its visitors to its Primark store, with those looking to enter having to queue outside in the car park.

On the other hand, many individuals are enjoying the opportunity to visit their favourite coffee shop, bar or restaurant and having the chance to sit outside watching the world go by. It represents a lifestyle most often found on the continent, allowing those of us who haven’t had a foreign holiday this year to have a taste of what we’re missing.

More recently, curfews imposed on bars and restaurants have sprung up challenges with an increased footfall on the streets at closing time, leading to concerns that it could cause more harm than good.

While these measures might help to stop the spread of Covid-19, it presents an ideal opportunity for those looking to commit crimes using a vehicle as a weapon.

Although the most recent UK vehicle-related terror attack happened back in 2018, there has been a spate on localised crimes in which vehicles have been used to cause injury and even death. In contrast, in the USA, reports are indicating that there have been 104 separate vehicle attacks taking place since 27 May 2020 as scores of protests take place. With tensions around how the UK and members of the public are handling the pandemic, it is likely that it won’t be long before we see vehicles being used as a weapon on the rise once again.

The future face of the high street
While many cities and town centres have already implemented measures to secure visitors in the wake of a rise in vehicle attacks in recent years, some still have a long way to go to ensure adequate security measures are in place.

To support the economic recovery of our towns and cities, councils are going to have to enhance how outdoor spaces are used to attract visitors, who in turn spend money on local high streets if they want to prevent businesses closing down and further job losses. An Arts Council England report titled Arts and Place Shaping: Evidence Review points to growing evidence that demonstrates cultures' role in revitalising the high street by promoting social cohesion and supporting local economies in towns, cities and villages throughout the country.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “These reports prove what we already know to be true, that culture is at the heart of our towns and cities. It creates jobs and makes our local communities across the country better places to live, work and visit.

Several councils already had ideas like this in mind before the outbreak of the Pandemic, with Kirklees Council, for example, outlining plans for a Cultural Quarter in the town centre of Huddersfield, something which it anticipates will be a catalyst for change in the town by acting as a cultural heart where families, visitors and residents can congregate and enjoy leisure, arts and music with the ambition of attracting more people into the town centre.

Leeds City Council has also put out calls for expertise to transform Leeds City Square to make the city more dynamic and inclusive as part of the councils Our Spaces strategy to transform and create world-class inclusive spaces across Leeds which contribute to an improvement in the health and well-being of its residents along with attracting visitors to the area.

If councils want to protect businesses and jobs in their areas, these are changes that are going to need to be driven through quickly to minimise the broader casualties of this virus. At the same time, pedestrian safety can not be overlooked.

Effective security measures
The way we live and work is likely to speed up the pedestrianisation of town centres, with it already being reported that bike sales are up 60% as a result of the pandemic according to the research firm, Mintel. It’s therefore vital that not only towns and city centres but the commuter routes leading to them have the required security measures in place if a revival of town centres is to be seen.

One of the biggest challenges, however, is retrospectively securing locations without it impacting on the aesthetics of the area.

While some councils have acted quickly to put in place security measures, in some instances, these are ones that should only be in place temporarily or are not effectively crash tested. Plastic or metal barriers separating vehicles from pedestrians or cyclists are most likely to create a false sense of security, but if impacted can result in more disastrous consequences than if the measures weren’t there in the first place.

On social media, a video has been circulating of a driver in Brighton intentionally driving through ‘wands’ implemented to create a cycle lane. While the driver didn’t collide with a cyclist, the outcome could have been very different and does not instil confidence in those who might wish to switch to cycling for commuting or leisure purposes.

Ineffective and garish security bollards are also unnecessary, especially when there are many on the market which can blend in with their surroundings, or can be customised to do so. As individuals have to adapt to the use of face masks and other restrictions, the last thing people want to see is security measures which can further heighten fears about the challenges faced in our modern-day society.

When it comes to security measures in the public realm, they should be unobtrusive, allowing individuals to go about their business with little acknowledgement that these measures are in place.

Enabling access
Another consideration is whether or not the perimeters being secured allow access to permitted vehicles. While effectively securing a perimeter is vital, access may still be required by delivery vehicles and emergency services. Often town cities adopt temporary measures which cannot meet these needs, potentially leading to unforeseen consequences on local businesses and if an emergency was to happen within the perimeter being secured.

From conversations with town planners and security professions, often the issue holding back the implementation of sufficient security measures is existing underground infrastructure. But over the last few years, manufacturers have developed innovative security measures which require little, if any excavation, while still offering a crash-tested solution.

While the rest of the year and even 2021 is set to be a challenge for many, I hope to see our towns and cities thriving again, with outdoor events, concerts and arts helping to bring people back together after what has been almost a year of keeping our distance.

www.pssasecurity.org

Permanent physical protection against hostile vehicle attack

Michael Lyons — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 07:45:34 +0000

Perimeter Security

Paul Jeffrey, chairman of the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association, writes for Counter Terror Business about permanent solutions for full perimeters, including entry point protocol

These days, Hostile Vehicle Mitigation or HVM is a very common type of specialist security protection used primarily to keep distance between a threat vehicle and its target. This mitigation can be seen in many forms covering both entry point and static perimeter, as well as perimeter extension, to create improved stand off from the main target infrastructure. While the perimeter is one of the key locations for security measures to be introduced, it should be noted that perimeter security should always be regarded as just one of a series of layered security measures designed to protect sites from attack.

With the ever expanding levels of protection, the potential targets have become far more wide ranging and now include sites that historically would never have been considered at high risk of attack. This is primarily due to the fact that security measures are aimed at protecting vulnerabilities and rarely address the underlying threat which simply moves to the next most accessible target.

Our role in the security industry is to provide suitable protection where needed while still being conscious of the impact of the measures introduced on other elements. These elements would include employees as well as the public that are put at increased risk as a result of the measures and other infrastructure more likely to be impacted as a result of greater stand off at a protected site.

An example of these considerations is - if a threat and risk assessment leading to an Operational Requirements plan (ORP) has been completed and the need for entry point vehicle security barriers (VSB’s) to protect against a vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) forms part of the operational requirement, then there is clearly a real threat of an event. The installation of VSB’s will consequently create the location where the event is expected to materialise. It is likely that this location will include the need for operational security presence and will almost certainly be closer to public space and infrastructure. This potential risk to third parties comes with a duty of care to mitigate the consequential impact on others and should be carefully considered wherever possible.

These enhanced threats to others are one of the reasons that any measures to increase protection to sites must be appropriate and proportionate to the threat and should always consider any third party or environmental impact resulting in their use.

Static perimeter security systems can now incorporate high levels of forced entry protection, impact resistance against hostile vehicle attack and intrusion detection at both ground and aerial level (drone attack). It is important for system designers to fully understand what is expected from a perimeter’s resilience, whether this is deterrent, detection or delay to enable guard force intervention. For larger sites with big perimeters, it is often more practical to designate high security areas within a site and focus on the protection of these areas rather than to try and support high level protection around the full site perimeter.

Entry and exit point controls have additional complexities to those found on the static perimeter as they must incorporate a continuous operational protocol to enable a controlled flow of vehicles (and pedestrians) through. Typical solutions would include VSB’s deployed in a format to enable controlled entry/exit while still being able to deny access.

Outside the general security requirements needed, some considerations often missed include: vehicle turnaround – if a vehicle is denied access there must be a facility to allow the vehicle to leave without having to access the site; traffic flow – the introduction of vehicle control measures will generally slow access to the site and this can result in traffic congestion backing up onto highways; aesthetics – some solutions are deliberately designed to be unwelcoming (eg Roadblockers) while others are designed to be more acceptable to the users of the facility (eg Bollards); visibility – guardhouse controls need to be operated by staff that have full visibility of the control point to be effective; and guard force protection.

There are a wide range of products for static perimeter and entry point protection and careful selection is essential to maximise the benefit to the solution. The ORP should identify suitable levels of resilience for each element of the solutions and these will include impact testing, forced entry, detection parameters and operational capabilities. Any perimeter security system designer should fully understand the different standards in use covering security products.

Obviously, any security system is only as good as the operational protocol and training given to the guard force. The implementation of a secure perimeter is often a complex process and can be eased by the use of specialist consultants to help identify and manage the risks within the operational and budget constraints. In addition, there is always plenty of help available for this from the regional CT SecCo’s, CTSA’s or direct from CPNI (see links below).

It is always worth keeping abreast of the latest government security advice as there are many relevant guidance documents available that would support security planning and good staff training is essential (eg ACT – Action Counters Terrorism). A review of relevant resources provided by CPNI is time well spent!

www.pssasecurity.org

The protection of crowded spaces

Michael Lyons — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 09:27:08 +0000

Perimeter Security

Paul Jeffrey, chairman of the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association, analyses the role that perimeter security can have in ensuring the safety of large groups of people, in the light of the prominence of vehicular attacks in recent years

We have all seen the media reports about terrorist attacks on crowded spaces whether by the use of vehicles as weapons, armed attack or suicide bombing (or a combination of all three). The results of these attacks are often mass casualty and invariably visibly shocking.

As a result of this new approach to terrorist attacks, crowded spaces are now seen as high risk areas that need careful consideration when reviewing the safety of the public at venues or special events. These venues include (but are not limited to) stadia, concert halls, shopping centres, stations, airports, Xmas markets, festival sites etc. as well as any other location where crowds can gather.

The starting point for any public space security review is the completion of a detailed threat/risk assessment which is designed to identify and understand the types and levels of risk to public safety created by the use of the venue. This is often a complex process and can be eased by the use of specialist consultants to help identify and manage the risks within the operational and budget constraints. There is always plenty of help available for this from the regional Counter Terrorism Security Co-ordinators, Counter Terrorism Security Advisers’s or direct from CPNI.

Once there is a detailed understanding and summary of the security risks, an Operational Requirements plan should be used to create a venue /event specific security plan. This would involve interaction with all stakeholders to ensure ‘buy-in’ and widespread acceptance. This will only benefit the planning as each stakeholder will generally have a priority focus. Input from all areas is essential to good planning.

While security is everyone’s responsibility, the main over-arching stakeholders in protection of crowded spaces are the event organisers and space owners who will work with the government security teams to create a safer environment in and around the venue.

Effective solutions to security risk should be multi-layered and would include weapon detection, physical barrier systems, suitably trained security personnel, incident response as well as command and control. The best solutions are generally ‘onion skin’ solutions using not only layers of differing security strategies but also concentric security perimeter rings. The consequences of ineffective planning are not only the failure to properly mitigate the risk but also the waste of precious budget funds.

Any protection introduced to improve the levels of physical protection afforded to the public must be appropriate and proportionate and wherever possible should be a permanent solution using rated barriers tested by an independent test house (for example PAS68/IWA 14-1 tested active or static solutions). However, if permanent solutions are not practicable, affordable or suitable, there is a fast developing availability of a range of temporary/fast deployment barriers from PSSA members which should be considered (these barriers are often available to hire for short term events). Special care should always be taken when considering rated barriers and a full understanding of test results and how effective the barriers are likely to be is critical.

In addition to the crowded space itself, there is also a duty of care towards crowds travelling to and from an ‘island’ venue site (for example crowds converging on a football stadium) as it is often easier for attacks to occur en-route to a venue than within a more centralised cordon zone. While security protection is often designed to control approach and entry to a venue, it is important to remember that attacks can occur on egress as well and this should be considered in the security planning.

A well designed physical barrier system should provide effective protection for those on the secure side of the system however the use of any barrier systems to protect against vehicle as weapon (VAW) attacks should be risk assessed to fully understand the residual risk to public safety. This residual risk can include unmanned entry/exit points, second wave attack, slow speed (push) impact etc.

Operational security personnel are the front line of public protection and must be well trained in countering terrorism. The key to their success in pre-empting and preventing attacks is observation and being able to identify unnatural behaviour. This is one of the fundamental elements of good security training. Obviously, identification is of no great benefit without good communication and command and control support.

When hardening an area and restricting access to specific control points, it should be noted that the system implementation itself may create a greater hazard to locally positioned operational staff as well as surrounding buildings. The implementation may therefore create a duty of care to third parties and this should be considered as part of the Operational Requirements plan.

Project command and control is critical to the effective running of a security project and encompasses all of the real time information processing, contingency plans, co-ordination etc. needed to effectively manage the security of a venue. Obviously, without a central control system and protocol, the strategy is highly unlikely to work and a specialist review of this is advisable unless it is being managed by government security teams.

It is always worth keeping abreast of the latest government security advice as there are relevant guidance documents available that would support the security planning by informing visitors to a venue or event of precautions, vigilance and what to do in an emergency (eg the Be Safe Be Sound Campaign – aimed at Festival goers). A review of relevant resources provided by CPNI is always a good starting point.

www.pssasecurity.org

There is more to entry point control than barriers

Michael Lyons — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 15:14:38 +0000

Perimeter Security

It cannot be stressed enough that any product or system protecting critical infrastructure and people must always be fully operational and be available to work if and when required. Paul Jeffrey, chairman of the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association, looks at the importance of accreditation for entry point control

With the heightened threat levels and the general awareness of security, we are seeing wide reaching changes in attitudes towards perimeter protection from secure fencelines and perimeter intrusion detection to entry point control using Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM). Many sites, especially critical infrastructure, are securing their perimeters and creating a hardened stand off area for improved protection against attack.

Unfortunately, while awareness of threat changes are undoubtably a positive, there are elements of the reactions to changes which are often excessive and at times ill-conceived. This is because the reactions can be knee-jerk and consequently do not follow a proper process of assessment of what protection is needed, why and how it can be properly implemented.

Most of the best practice process is detailed in standards IWA-14.2:2013 (Security Barriers – Application) and IWA-14.1:2013 (Security Barriers – Performance). However, without the right partners (Consultants, Manufacturer, Installer) the process will be difficult to complete satisfactorily.

Threat assessment
Before embarking on any proposal for the implementation of entry point control, it is essential that there is a full understanding and quantification of the threat including the assets under threat, stand off needed to protect those assets, consequential risk (collateral damage) and possibilities for passive mitigation designs.

Detailed threat assessments are usually very complex and require a large amount of experience and knowledge to be completed satisfactorily. As the initial assessment is the cornerstone of the design of any entry point control, it is always recommended that expert consultants are used to carry out this function and they will follow the principles set out in IWA-14.2 2013 (Security Barriers – Application) which superceded the PAS69 standard. It is more common than you would expect for a high security system to be installed on an entry point with no consideration being given to a remote exit point leading to the same critical assets and these projects have invariably missed this vital step in the design process or have used inexperienced or unqualified consultants.

The implementation of any project of this type could greatly impact the running of the facility and it is important to identify and engage with all stakeholders in the early stages of the project design to ensure smooth implementation and buy in. It should not be forgotten that any barrier system will impede vehicle access and this often leads to frustration by users which is easier to manage if all stakeholders are 'on board' from the start.

Operational protocol
The physical operational impact of entry point control is something that is often missed in consideration of protection measures. There have been many instances where a control point has been implemented, gone live on day one and then switched off on day two due to the impact on local transportation links. Obviously, this is not a good situation and can easily be avoided by anticipating and considering the consequences of the implementation of a control point on the environment. For example, if the threat assessment allows, the operational protocol for entry point control can be varied to accommodate peak traffic flows.

Operator training is an essential part of any security system and possibly even more critical when it comes to entry point control. With the wide spread use of sub-contract security companies to operate and maintain site security, the ultimate stakeholder is more remote from the frontline security in both the literal and theoretical sense. This makes the need for a clear and auditable process for training even greater and stakeholders need to be sure that proper training is being carried out continuously. Don't forget that the equipment being deployed at these check points can, if misused, be lethal and you would not issue a loaded gun to untrained staff!

Operational Health and Safety is always the most important consideration and any barrier installation will need to have a safety risk assessment completed before commissioning although a safe operating procedure should have already been incorporated within the protocol and any residual safety risks addressed by safety systems on the physical equipment.

Duty of care
As an employer you have a responsibility (whether legal or moral) to staff to protect them from harm and while with security protection this is not always possible, there should at the very least be a clear and documented understanding of the risks of the roles and an assessment of what (if any) protection can be put in place.

If a threat assessment identifies a serious risk that requires an intervention or protection in the form of entry point control then you are understanding and accepting that there is the possibility of a major incident and are crystallising the likely location of that incident with a control point. Any staff deployed to operate systems at the control point (or other staff / general public in the vicinity) will consequently be at enhanced risk and need to have a carefully considered plan to mitigate the risk.

The concern is that when the risk is an explosion then the reaction is often ‘there is nothing that can be done to reduce the localised effect’. While this may be the case, if you can mitigate the risk by even a small percentage then, given that as an employer, you are putting employees at an enhanced danger level, any improvement in protection, however small it may seem, should always be considered.

Risk mitigation can take in many forms and can include physical protection from blast / ballistic attack, as well as adjustments to the operational protocols ensure that the least amount of personnel are at risk at any point in time.

Selection process
With the development of more and more innovative physical blocking solutions, careful research of what is available using product sourcing sites such as HVM hub will aid the process considerably. Whole life cost should always be understood when selecting products and this should include not only the product cost but foundation requirements/cost, installation, warranty periods, maintenance costs and life expectancy. Information on duty cycling and mean time between failure will also help with the selection process.

Using vetted manufacturers (for example PSSA members) will always give some additional confidence that what is being procured/used is from a reputable source with a history of successful projects. Project references are a valuable source of confidence support and can often highlight potential issues that have been seen on similar sites.

Maintenance
While maintenance would arguably sit outside the selection and implementation process (other than whole life costs), it is necessary to include at least a few comments here due to the often overlooked or ignored nature of this area of work. Once an entry point control system has been assessed, designed, procured, installed and commissioned, it is very easy to consider the project complete and this is exacerbated by the likelihood that the maintenance work is more likely to form part of a different department.

The purpose of the system installed and operating is easily forgotten in time, and the criticality of the ongoing functionality of equipment (that was originally installed as a potentially life saving piece of equipment) may be reduced in importance.

It cannot be stressed enough that any product or system protecting critical infrastructure and people must always be fully operational and be available to work if and when required. This is why proper and regular maintenance by fully trained and competent engineers (eg PSSA Installer members) of the equipment should be, and remain, the highest priority once system has been commissioned.

Any entity that enters into a process as described above is doing so to protect lives and critical infrastructure and following the correct process with the best consultants/partners will ensure the best solution.