Counter Terror Business - Policing & Law Enforcement

Project Servator: A decade of vigilance and community partnership

Meghan Shaw — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:14:42 +0000

The NPSA looks back at ten years of Project Servator

If you have ever walked through a local high street or town square and spotted a rather visible police presence, then you have quite possibly witnessed Project Servator at work. The initiative was first launched 10 years ago by City of London Police and has since been adopted by 27 police forces.

Project Servator involves police carrying out highly visible deployments made up of a range of resources. Some are obvious, such as uniformed and armed police officers, dogs and horses, vehicle checkpoints and sometimes even drones. Others are less visible, such as plain clothes officers and state-of-the-art CCTV. At the core of Project SERVATOR is unpredictability – they can be deployed anywhere and at any time.

The purpose is to disrupt a range of criminal activities, from shoplifting to potential terror attacks. They do this by identifying and deterring hostile reconnaissance – the act of information gathering by criminals that helps them plan and prepare to commit a crime.

Hostile reconnaissance is a vital component of the attack planning process. For terrorists and other criminals to successfully carry out their plans, they need to gather as much information about their intended target as possible. This is usually done online and then in person by visiting the place they want to target. By identifying these activities, police officers can take steps to disrupt their plans. Unlike traditional policing, officers involved in Project Servator are specially trained to spot tell-tale signs that someone may be gathering information.

Cooperation between the public, commercial organisations and the police remains the greatest advantage in tackling all forms of criminality. Project Servator plays an important role in encouraging everyone to work together to make the UK an uninviting target for criminals and terrorists, whilst providing a reassuring presence in the community.

10th anniversary of Project Servator

Project Servator was developed, tested, and refined over a five-year period by experts at the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) in partnership with the City of London Police. NPSA’s development of the behavioural science that underpins Project Servator, paired with the ongoing cycle of evaluation and refinement over the last decade, continues to ensure that the tactic is effective against terrorism and other threats.

It was first introduced by the City of London Police, who adopted the collaborative community approach in early 2014, aimed at further protecting the City and reinforcing the existing ‘ring of steel’. It was also used during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow by Police Scotland and partners in the summer of 2014, to build on and complement the Games’ safety and security plans. Since then, many more police forces in the UK, including the British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police, have implemented the initiative.

Network of vigilance

An important part of any Project Servator deployment is engagement with the public to inform and reassure them. Uniformed officers talk to members of the public about what the police are doing in the area and explain the key role that individuals play by being vigilant themselves and reporting any suspicious activity. Officers will hand out leaflets detailing what Project Servator is and how someone can report anything unusual.

Officers will also talk to businesses and their staff about Project Servator and the importance of remaining vigilant and reporting anything that seems out of place. As part of their deployments, police officers will often go into business premises, such as coffee shops and retail outlets, to talk to staff and customers. Businesses have an important dual role to play — remaining vigilant and reporting anything suspicious, as well as reassuring their customers that Project Servator is there to keep them safe and encouraging them to be vigilant too.

A massive deterrent for criminals and those with harmful intent is the belief that it is not only the police that are on the lookout for them, but that everyone in the community is involved. To maximise this deterrent effect, it is important to show that businesses and the local community support this police initiative and have involved their employees, security staff, and control rooms. The aim is to create a network of vigilance that makes it difficult for criminals to operate.

Working in partnership

There are some effective actions that businesses and organisations can take to help increase the impact of Project Servator: authorising security officers to join police deployments can visibly demonstrate strong collaboration and vigilance; utilising CCTV control rooms to monitor and report suspicious activity can expand the operation’s reach; and permitting temporary posters and the use of any digital signage to display Project Servator safety messaging and allowing officer engagement with customers can help inform and reassure the public. This can also include amplifying Project Servator’s message by sharing and engaging with their content on social media can also increase local exposure and create a ripple deterrence effect and publicly supporting Project Servator through media quotes and interviews, as well as maintaining an ongoing PR and digital collaboration can create a lasting deterrent.

Over the past 10 years, Project Servator has proved what working in partnership can achieve. It has helped the police use existing resources effectively to disrupt terrorist attack planning and involved both businesses and the public as part of a collective effort. The initiative has been successful in gathering intelligence that has assisted Counter Terrorism Units across the UK in investigating and preventing acts of terror, resulting in arrests for a multitude of offences. And it is responsible for removing illegal firearms, knives, and drugs from the streets.

Together, we’ve got it covered.

The work of Counter Terrorism Policing over the last 12 months

Michael Lyons — Mon, 10 May 2021 08:51:12 +0000

Policing & Law Enforcement

In the last year, as the country’s collective consciousness has understandably been focused upon the Covid-19 pandemic, the officers and staff of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) have quietly continued the 24/7 work of protecting the UK from another serious threat.

Whilst lockdowns, death tolls and vaccinations have somewhat dominated headlines, the UK has continued to face a terror threat that hasn’t dipped below SUBSTANTIAL during the last year, meaning an attack is likely.

To put it more starkly, since the pandemic began CTP and the UK Intelligence Services have foiled three potential terror attacks, despite CT arrests falling to their lowest level for nearly a decade.

There were a total of 185 arrests for terrorism-related activity in the year ending 31 December 2020, 97 (34%) fewer than in the previous 12-month period and the lowest annual total since 2011.

CTP frequently use non-terrorism legislation to make arrests and disrupt terrorist activity, and the overall reduction in crime which occurred during the lockdown period has presented fewer opportunities for officers to do so.

Despite this, CTP and their intelligence partners have still managed to successfully protect the public against three attacks – taking the overall number of foiled plots to 28 since March 2017.

The Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon, believes these statistics tell us two things: “Firstly, that despite facing unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic, CTP continued to keep the public safe by making 185 arrests across more than 800 live investigations.

“And secondly, that while the rest of us have been focused on protecting ourselves and our families from a terrible disease, terrorists have not stopped planning attacks or radicalising vulnerable people online.”

So if the threat from terrorism has remained at a high level despite the pandemic, what does that mean for public safety now that restrictions are beginning to ease? And how can businesses, and the public, help CTP to protect the UK against this ever-present threat?

Well, these are the top three issues that CTP is asking businesses and the wider public to help with during 2021.

Young people and the threat of radicalisation
One of the key CT issues to have emerged during successive lockdowns were concerns about a ‘perfect storm’ of potential radicalisation, amongst young people in particular. Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “We are seeing more young people being drawn towards terrorist activity. What concerns me most is this – there has been a sharp increase in extremist material online in the last few years, and Covid-19 has meant that vulnerable people are spending a lot more time isolated and online, and with fewer of the protective factors that schooling, employment, friends and family can provide. In my opinion that is a perfect storm, one which we cannot predict and that we might be feeling the effects of for many years to come.”

Underlying this concern are statistics demonstrating that more children under the age of 18 are being arrested in relation to terrorism offences than ever before. In 2020, 19 children were arrested in relation to terrorism offences. Some were as young as 14 years old, while nearly all will have been radicalised entirely online.

In the same time period, hundreds of children under the age of 15 were helped by the Prevent programme to choose a different path, away from hatred and violence – demonstrating a critical need for CTP to boost awareness of the sometimes life-changing difference early intervention from Prevent can make to those vulnerable to radicalisation.

Family and friends are best placed to spot the signs first; worrying behaviour changes which can indicate that a loved one is heading down a path towards terrorism, however currently just two per cent of referrals into Prevent come from that group of people.

To meet this operational need, CTP created and launched a new service called ACT Early, a dedicated safeguarding website and advice line designed to provide parents, friends and with the specialist support they need to stop their loved ones being drawn into harmful activities or groups. UK Protect Duty.

Since 2017, CTP has worked tirelessly to improve collaboration with the business sector, and recent years have seen us work closer than ever before with UK businesses to address the challenges terrorism presents across the UK.

That is why we welcome the recent launch of the �鶹�� Office’s public consultation on the proposed Protect Duty legislation; which considers how we can work together to develop proportionate security measures to improve public security. It also considers how those responsible for publicly accessible locations are ready and prepared to take appropriate action, were a terrorist attack to happen, and how a legislative requirement might support this.

CTP are strong advocates for the Protect Duty and the benefits a legislative framework can provide for the consistent provision of protective security across the country. It is important at this stage that everyone’s voice is heard and we would encourage you and your businesses to contribute to this process.

While she was still Senior National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare, the newly appointed Chief Constable of the British Transport Police, Lucy D’Orsi, explained why she believed putting protective security on a legislative footing would be beneficial for the whole country: “A Protect Duty would transform the UK approach to protective security and ensure we create a hostile environment for terrorists to operate. I firmly believe that a Protect Duty would be transformational for the UK, and it would be as important to protective security as GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation] has been for data handling.”

Visit www.gov.uk/government/consultations/protect-duty for more information, and have your voice heard.

Post-lockdown vigilance
One of the main impacts the pandemic and resulting lockdowns have had on the CT picture in the UK has been the restriction upon free movement, and the shutdown of the crowded spaces that terrorists would normally target during attack planning.

Despite three foiled plots during the last 12 months, these restrictions have made it more difficult for would-be terrorists to plan or enact attacks, and the threat of attack was described as ‘temporarily suppressed’ during this period.

As the easing of lockdown begins in earnest across the country, there are concerns that as crowded places start to fill with people again, there is potential for that risk to come back. That is why CTP has recently launched the ‘Easing Lockdown Vigilance Campaign’ to encourage businesses and the public to support the police’s 24/7 efforts to keep the country safe by remaining vigilant, and reporting anything that doesn’t seem right to security staff or the police.

Businesses are also being asked to update their security plans and ensure any new outdoor spaces opened to meet new regulations have been properly risk-assessed – helping to protect their customers not just against Covid, but terrorism too.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, who recently replaced Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi as the Senior National Coordinator for Protect and Prepare, said: “CTP has the vitally important job of reminding everyone that while Covid-19 is still dominating our lives, we must do all we can to prevent another threat from reappearing - terrorism, sadly, has not gone away.

“The best defence against the terrorist threat is a collective community effort - where police, security staff, businesses and the public come together to minimise the chance of attack, and Counter Terrorism Policing have a range of training materials and advice to help businesses improve and update their security plans.”

Counter Terrorism Policing has three actions they wish businesses to carry out during the easing of lockdown restrictions in the coming weeks:
   •   Arrange for staff to take our Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) Awareness online e-learning course. It is free, takes just 45 minutes to complete and could save lives.
   •   Review our sector-specific crowded places advice documents, and make sure that you carry out risk assessments on existing sites and any new areas such as outdoor spaces.
   •   Download the ACT app to your phone to be sure of having the latest official information and updates from Counter Terrorism Policing in your pocket 24/7, and encourage your staff to do the same.

DACSO Matt Twist added: “Our range of ACT products can help you make quick, cost effective improvements to your security plans and help you protect both your business, your staff and your customers. It is yet another example of how collaboration and integration between police and the private sector can enhance national security and how we can collectively work together to make all our communities safer.

www.counterterrorism.police.uk

CTB Interview: Project Servator deployments

Michael Lyons — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 15:16:45 +0000

Policing & Law Enforcement

Counter Terror Business (CTB) talks to Caroline Graham (CG) about Project Servator deployments and what the public can expect at East Midlands Airport

CTB: In. the last two years there have been more than 1,500 arrests as a result of Project Servator deployments. How important is it for Leicestershire Police to be trialling the scheme at East Midlands Airport?

Leicestershire Police are really proud to be trialling Project Servator at East Midlands Airport, helping keep this community and the people who pass through it safe. With approximately five million passengers using the airport each year it is important for us to reassure these visitors and deter criminals from carrying out any activity at the site. Although Project Servator is not a response to a specific threat, the threat to the UK from terrorism is ‘substantial’, meaning an attack is likely. The tragic events at Streatham High Road in January 2020, Fishmongers’ Hall in London in 2019 and London and Manchester in 2017 remind us that attacks can happen at any time or place without warning. This means we all have to remain alert and vigilant when going about our daily lives. Our highly visible deployments will help spread this message of vigilance within the airport community.

CTB: What training is involved for police when it comes to Project Servator?

As part of Project Servator, police officers are specially trained to identify individuals who may be planning or preparing to commit a crime. This can range from someone shoplifting to an individual who is planning a terrorist attack carrying out reconnaissance at an iconic site – the tell-tale signs that bring them to officers’ attention are the same. Their state of mind is often demonstrated by tell-tale signs that specially trained police officers and security staff can look out for and then take action.

CTB: What can the public expect to see as a result of these deployments?

Project Servator deployments are normal police deployments, but they are unpredictable, so the public can expect to see them pop up anywhere and at any time. The public should not be surprised or alarmed if they see them and weren’t expecting to. We encourage the public to talk to the officers involved if they want to find out more.

The number of police officers and assets involved will vary from deployment to deployment. Not all aspects of the deployments will be apparent. For example, in addition to uniformed police officers, there will be plain clothes officers present, along with CCTV, ANPR and other measures that may not be visible to the public.

If there’s a Project Servator deployment in the area, there’s nothing to worry about. As part of their activity, those involved will talk to the public and local businesses to let them know what they are doing and remind them to be vigilant and report any suspicious or unusual behaviour to police. Officers may also hand out leaflets explaining what Project Servator is or put Project Servator posters on display. Working with the community is a vital part of making Project Servator a success.

CTB: You say that Project Servator 'will add another layer of security to our existing policing methods’. Can you expand on this?

Project Servator was developed, tested and refined over a five-year period by experts at the Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) in partnership with the City of London Police. The Project Servator logo depicts a police officer, police dog, and three other people, which could represent a member of the public, a security officer, or member of retail staff. This portrays both the collaborative ethos behind Project Servator and the use of different police assets. We have great relationships with staff, security and passengers around the airport site and we are using Project Servator as a way of building on these relationships to disrupt a range of criminal activity and create a network of vigilance against those intent on committing crime, including terrorism.

CTB: Project Servator also encourages the public to learn how to spot the signs of suspicious behaviour. Given the current security climate and recent attempted terrorist attacks, how important is the role of the public in reporting and reacting to threats?

The role of the public is really important in reporting threats or suspicious activity. We rely on the public to be our eyes and ears. They have a key role to play by reporting anything that doesn’t feel right, for example an unattended item or someone acting suspiciously. We ask the public to report suspicious activity immediately to a police officer or their local police on 101. Suspicious activity is anything that seems out place, unusual or doesn’t seem to fit in with day-to-day life. If it’s an emergency, you should always call 999.

www.leics.police.uk

Identifying and removing terrorist content

Michael Lyons — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 14:13:23 +0000

Policing & Law Enforcement

Public reports have helped with 400 counter terrorism investigations in just under 12 months. Counter Terrorism Policing examines the work and significance of the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit in turning the tide against terrorists online

With the help of around 1,300 referrals from the public in 2018 – some of which were from material encountered whilst at work - the Met’s Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) has assisted with 400 live counter terrorism investigations across the UK in the past 12 months.

From January to November, 1,297 reports of online terrorist content were made by the public and passed to the CTIRU, which is part of the National Digital Exploitation Service (NDES), within the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. As well as assessing the public referrals, officers from the CTIRU scour the internet on a daily basis to find terrorist content themselves.

This work has led to the CTIRU being actively involved in supporting 396 counter terrorism investigations from January to December 2018. This figure has doubled since 2017, when the CTIRU was supporting, on average, around 15 investigations per month, compared with 33 per month in 2018.

When the CTIRU was initially set up in 2010, it was predominantly focused on working with internet companies to get terrorist content removed from online. However, with the establishment of other internet referral units across the globe, the CTIRU has been able to significantly increase its investigative capabilities over the past 18 months. This has led to officers being able to spend more time identifying specific UK-based threats and then supporting investigations into the individuals or networks behind them.

Detective Chief Superintendent Kevin Southworth, from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, who leads the CTIRU, said: “We’ve been able in the past year or so, to concentrate more on investigating the individuals or networks who are posting terrorist material online. Where the CTIRU is able to identify a UK footprint, this will then be fed into investigations across the UK’s Counter Terrorism Network. It might be that we’re already investigating a suspect for terrorism offences, and the CTIRU finds further evidence of what they’re doing, or it might be that they haven’t come onto our radar before and we’ll then launch a new investigation.

“The public really do play a vital role in this. By reporting terrorist content they see online via the ACT website they are having an impact in two very important ways. Firstly, we’re able to request the removal of any terrorist content, which means those who are potentially vulnerable to radicalisation don’t then come across that material. Secondly, and increasingly, it’s leading us to identify the people or networks behind the content, investigate and stop them, and bring them to justice.

“It’s also important for people to remember that this applies equally to any terrorist-related material or content they might encounter through their work, as much as anything they might come across in their personal lives. Virtually every business will have some sort of online presence, so it’s important they too think about reporting any suspicious material to police, the same way that any responsible member of the public would.”

One such case led to the identification of 29-year-old Mohammed Kamal Hussain from east London, who was encouraging and inviting support for Daesh online. The investigation into Hussain all stemmed from a public report after a man received a Facebook message from Hussain encouraging him to join Daesh. The report came to the CTIRU, where officers linked the message back to Hussain and an investigation was launched. Hussain was eventually arrested, charged and jailed in February for seven years for terrorism offences.

In another case this year, the CTIRU supported detectives based in Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) with their investigation into Husnain Rashid. Rashid, from Lancashire, was found to be posting thousands of online messages in which he was encouraging others to carry out attacks and posting instructions on how to make explosives and administer poisons.

Despite Rashid going to great length and effort to try and cover his tracks, specialists within the CTIRU, working with CTPNW colleagues, were still able to build a comprehensive picture of the channels and posts Rashid was responsible for, which culminated in him being jailed in July for a minimum of 25 years for various terrorism offences.

A proactive approach
Since 2010, the CTIRU has worked to get 310,000 pieces of online terrorist material removed. Specialist officers assess material to determine its nature and whether it breaches any terrorism legislation, and where it does, take steps to get it removed by the host website or platform.

But the shift in focus from removals to investigations has been possible, in large part, due to the fact that internet and technology companies and content providers are now becoming more effective at removing the content themselves – much of this has been achieved through initiatives, such as the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, as well as content providers becoming more proactive in their approach following the various terrorist attacks globally in recent years. A key driver for progress in this and other initiatives has been the �鶹�� Office, with whom the CTIRU enjoys a close working relationship, both in terms of policy and strategy.

A report by Facebook stated 9.4 million pieces of Islamist-related content was removed from the platform between April and June 2018. Similarly, Twitter has reported that between July and December 2017, nearly 275,000 accounts were permanently suspended for violations related to the promotion of terrorism, with over 1.2 million accounts suspended for terrorist content since August 2015.

Over the past four years, the CTIRU, which was the first unit of its kind to be established in the world, has also shared its model with other nations – particularly in Europe and the ‘Five Eyes’ countries. With the introduction of similar units around the world, it has shared the responsibility of identifying and removing terrorist content, enabling the CTIRU to take a more proactive investigative approach.

Detective Chief Superintendent Southworth, added: “At its height, around 2016, the CTIRU was identifying and removing around 10,000 pieces of content every month, but this has reduced considerably in the past year. It’s not because the material is no longer there, but that others are now stepping up and taking more responsibility – particularly major communication service providers.

“It’s a reflection of the excellent work and dedication of the officers in the CTIRU and their efforts to both raise awareness of this issue across the industry, and export the CTIRU model to other countries around the world that we’re seeing the tide turn against terrorists online. We cannot, however, afford any complacency and we will continue to work with the public, partners and industry to make the internet as hostile a place as possible for terrorists.”

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International Security Expo: Creating public awareness

Michael Lyons — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 15:45:30 +0000

Policing & Law Enforcement

Ahead of the International Security Expo, Counter Terror Business talks to the Police National Search Centre’s Gary Fretwell about the challenges when considering the security of a crowded place and getting used to a higher level of security

You are speaking in the Protecting Crowded Places & Countering Terrorism of the show. What are you going to be discussing an how important is a pre-established plan for the searching of buildings and crowded places?

I will be discussing two topics. The first is ‘Creating search plans for your site and the value of post rooms’ and the second is ‘Searching in the Education Sector’.

Counter terrorism security planning and the implementation of searches are vital in providing a safe and secure environment for all events, while maintaining an appropriate ‘look and feel’ for the attendees, whether VIP visits, or crowded public events.

It is very important to create an atmosphere of security that does not detract from the event by being either disproportionate or oppressive, which may adversely affect the event, or the attendees. As the global terror threat continues it is both unfortunate, but highly necessary, that this type of work is carried out. The success of the current strategies and search activity have significantly reduced the opportunity for terrorist organisations to carry out pre-planned attacks.

Are there specific challenges that police and security must overcome when it comes to outdoor crowded places?

There are many challenges when considering the security of a crowded place, while specific tactics cannot be discussed, there is an element of awareness that can be put in place to assist the public in understanding why certain measures are present. There is also an acceptance that the general public have become used to a higher level of security, due to the number of terror-related incidents which have sadly taken place over recent years. Anecdotally the public will comment when security is perceived to be lacking.

It is also a vital part of the security strategy that attendees of events enter via a level of protective security measures and that these do not significantly impact on their visit. It is always challenging to achieve this, but the public’s willingness to engage with security regimes often demonstrates an increase in overall reassurance and acceptance of this approach.

There has also been a few occasions over the last few years of planned attacks on places of worship (Finsbury Park etc). As places of worship differ in size, location, layout and operation, what advice is given for the protection of these places?

The measures that are taken in the planning of counter terrorism security are broad reaching and follow a set standard of assurance. The key issue isn’t the provenance of a building, or an event but whether there is a threat present. The Police Counter Terrorism search process provides for numerous layers of protection and these are bespoke to each event by utilising appropriate intelligence sources, working with the organisers of the event to an agreed overarching strategy.

You may also find this webpage useful for background information: http://www.college.police.uk/News/archive/2014jun/Pages/Inside-the-Polic....

www.internationalsecurityexpo.com

Terrorism training for a digital age

Michael Lyons — Tue, 01 May 2018 09:09:00 +0000

Policing & Law Enforcement

Counter Terrorism Police have joined forces with a major retailer to develop a pioneering programme to train over a million crowded places workers. Here, the organisation explains why

High Street giant Marks and Spencer has partnered with specialist officers to help spearhead and fund the initiative, which has been successfully trialled with 20,000 employees from its stores and other businesses operating in busy towns and cities. Called ACT Awareness e-Learning, the six main modules teach staff about the threat from terrorism and explain what steps they can take to help tackle it.

A seventh module offers supporting material and links for further information. The course, which is fully interactive, can be taken at times to suit business needs. Topics covered will include spotting the signs of suspicious behaviour and reacting to a firearms or weapons attack.

Police have consulted with other industry leaders in areas such as entertainment and hospitality and are now ready to make ACT Awareness e-Learning available free of charge to all qualifying organisations – private or public.

The development will not replace the role of specialist CT officers who liaise with and advise industry on security matters, but will help provide extra ‘eyes and ears’ to help defeat terrorism in busy, high-profile places.

Det chief Supt Scott Wilson, National Coordinator for Protective Security, explains: “We want to do everything we can to protect our crowded places, so welcomed the opportunity to work on this project with Marks and Spencer and others. There is no specific increased threat to the retail sector but the general threat level is at Severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. Developing joint projects like this is going to be a significant part of our CT Police’s protective security work.

“With increasing pressure on resources in all areas of business, we all need to collaborate more. M&S have shared their knowledge of operating day to day in busy shopping centres with specialist officers who understand the threat picture. Together we have been able to develop a product that can be used by a wide variety of organisations operating in crowded places.

“The demand for face to face briefings within crowded places companies was growing faster than courses could be arranged - and they come at a cost to businesses. Significant sums have to be spent in terms of employee travel, venue hire, refreshments etc. This product will vastly increase the number of staff we can brief in a relatively short period and at a much lower cost.

“And apart from the financial and organisational demands on group briefings, in a digital age we needed a digital solution. This course can be carried out in bite-sized chunks at times to suit. We will also have better analytics to keep track of who has undertaken what modules and have version control to ensure we are sharing the most up to date information.

“Already we are looking ahead to Version Two to ensure we stay up to date with emerging threats. The feedback from the staff at M&S and the other companies we have asked to trial the product has been overwhelmingly positive. Colleagues found the content informative and engaging.”

John Frost, head of Business Continuity from Marks and Spencer, also commented: “We were reviewing our training in this area so the timing of this collaboration was ideal for us. Obviously it is a priority for Marks and Spencer that we do all we can to protect our people, our property and our brand. Undertaking work like this is what our customers would expect of us.”

Security criteria
The ACT Awareness e-Learning initiative follows on from the successful launch of the industry self-delivery package two years ago. This enabled accredited trainers rather than police officers to deliver counter terrorism workshops. Over 400 companies and public bodies, with a collective workforce of two million employees, signed up - massively increasing the numbers of people able to improve their security awareness.

Previously, police-led briefings were reaching around 100,000 people per year. Moving to an online platform aims to open up the course to many more organisations who do not have qualified trainers within their teams and would otherwise have to buy-in the service – thus reducing costs and being more flexible for employees to fit in around their main work commitments.

Another key partner in the development of the course was Highfield e-learning – a global leader in compliance e-learning and a Queen’s Award winner for Enterprise. Highfield will register applicants for the package and, once approved by CT Policing, provide the necessary URL links so employees can log on and work through the modules in a timeframe to suit them and their businesses’ needs.

There is also a facility that allows organisations to host the package on their own IT systems, providing certain security criteria is met. This is available via a SCORM file. Police are hoping that a million or more workers will follow the modules.

The six key components cover: an introduction to terrorism, identifying security vulnerabilities, identifying and responding to suspicious behaviour, identifying and responding to suspicious items, what to do in the event of a bomb threat and how to respond to a firearms or weapons attack. The estimated completion time for all six sections is under one hour.

Material previously produced by CT Policing's National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), such as the Run, Hide, Tell films have been re packaged to suit the modular format.

The availability of the product was announced at a recent summit of senior police protective security leads from around the UK. Each senior officer was invited to bring key business and local authority figures to the event held at the offices of Credit Suisse in London’s Canary Wharf.

The day-long seminar also included presentations on other current security issues such as hostile vehicle mitigation and CBRNe threats. However the main aim of the day was to encourage sign-up to the e-Learning package.

DCS Wilson adds: “The areas we cover in this step-by-step package could save lives. Industry specifically requested the development of this type of product to better prepare their staff and help protect communities and businesses. It won’t replace the involvement of CTSAs – they are still available if needed.

“All staff working in crowded places – not just those who have a security role – can follow the course and be in a stronger position to help protect themselves, colleagues and the public. The benefits go beyond the immediate work place. The course will equip all those who take it with knowledge they can apply in other areas of their daily lives.

“We hope many organisations will want to sign up and take advantage of this free product. Our CTSAs will be approaching their regional contacts to make them aware of the facility and explain how they can take part. We are grateful to Marks and Spencer who entered into this collaboration with us. They have shown true leadership in the sector in helping us develop the modules in a way that will easy for all sizes of company to use.

“This is our second major collaboration following last summer’s work with the Foreign Office and ABTA the Travel Association to provide briefing tools for travel industry staff and tourists. It is not about replacing police involvement but expanding our reach to raise awareness of the threat from terrorism with as many people as possible.”

Companies wanting more information or to apply for registration should visit the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) website.

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-counter-terrorism-security-office

What to do in the event of a terror attack

Michael Lyons — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 08:27:51 +0000

Policing & Law Enforcement

Following a recent police video advising UK holidaymakers what to do in the event of a terror attack, Lorraine Hennessy, communications manager for National Counter Terrorism Policing, expands upon the ‘run, hide, tell’ safety message

Counter Terrorism Policing has condensed key protective security advice into a trio of short videos to help staff in crowded places keep themselves and the public safe. The films, which last just 15 minutes in total, were developed specifically for international use but are as relevant to those working in the UK as those employed abroad.

The key information outlined in each of the three productions is: how to spot and respond to suspicious behaviour; how to identify and deal with suspicious items; and how to react to a firearms or weapons attack.

The third video has also been adapted and released to the public. It focuses on the Run, Hide, Tell advice that was first issued in December 2015 following attacks in Paris, and most recently used by the Metropolitan Police during the Borough Market atrocity. The original video had an office block setting but the new version was recorded in an overseas holiday resort. It shows holidaymakers, including family groups, and staff reacting to a firearms attack.

Parents are being encouraged to watch the films with older children who may spend some time in the resort without their direct supervision. Versions are available with subtitles and in different languages.

The other two episodes, also filmed abroad, show resort staff including a rep, receptionist and chef taking action when concerned about suspicious activity of items.

Crowded place guidance
The project is a collaboration between the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and ABTA - The Travel Association, along with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The partnership between the public bodies and travel industry experts meant that security advice that has been developed by police over a number of years could be packaged in a way that made it both relevant and easy to deliver to staff.

Although the products have been developed with the travel sector, the advice is applicable to any crowded place environment, such as shopping centres, entertainment and sporting venues.

Detective Chief Superintendent Scott Wilson, National Coordinator for Protective Security, explains: "As security experts we know what information we should be sharing with crowded places workers. But we wanted to work with industry managers on 'how' this advice is delivered. We needed to develop products that could be shown to and understood by people working at all levels in the travel industry - from senior managers in the UK, to holiday reps, to locally based workers carrying out service roles like kitchen staff and cleaners.

"This is where working with ABTA has been invaluable. They know their industry, they understand the demands on member companies in terms of time allowed for staff training. Together we were able to condense our key messages into three videos that are clear and applicable to everyone watching.

"Although the setting for the films is a holiday resort, these products could be shown to staff working in any sector. And the real advantage is that collectively they last just 15 minutes - 15 minutes that could protect businesses and livelihoods, and help save lives. While these films cover the core messages, we continue to advise companies to sign up to our Project Griffin self-delivery package which will enable them to offer even more guidance to employees.”

Protecting British interests abroad
So far 23,000 travel industry workers both in the UK and overseas, have undertaken the training, with more sessions planned.

Nikki White, cirector of Destinations and Sustainability from ABTA, adds: “We recognise the importance of raising awareness and providing clear guidance for our members and their employees. We know that customers would look to the staff working in their hotels and resorts to take the lead and respond quickly to an emerging situation. Representatives of the travel industry taking part in the training have responded positively. We will continue to work closely with the police to make sure we are doing all we can to help raise awareness of these messages.”

The project with ABTA was initiated by CT Policing and the FCO following the terrorist attack at a beach resort in Tunisia in June 2015. Thirty British holidaymakers were among the 38 killed in a marauding firearms attack in Sousse.

The collaboration is part of a wider programme to help strengthen protective security measures to protect British interests abroad. The number of UK CT officers working overseas has increased and this now includes specialist working under the direction of national CT Policing. These officers can bring years of learning from the UK to partner law enforcement agencies and commercial organisations operating in vulnerable locations across the globe.

With millions expected to jet off this summer, the FCO continues to urge holidaymakers to visit their website for the latest security and safety information about their country of destination.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, FCO Minister for National Security and Counter Terrorism, says: “We want people to be safe so they can enjoy their holidays. As well as reading and taking note of our travel advice, and taking out appropriate insurance, I encourage people to watch this film before they go away. While there is no specific information that British holidaymakers will be targeted this summer, it sets out some simple steps we can all take to minimise the impact of an attack if one does take place.”

Communications platform highlighted at security summit
The success of the protective security collaboration with the travel industry was highlighted at a ‘step change’ security summit held at London’s Guildhall this month. Keynote speaker, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, National Lead for Counter Terrorism Policing, sited the project as an example of how police and the private sector must work closely to tackle the threat.

Mr Rowley also spelt out a plan to rollout a cross sector security communications platform that would facilitate an exchange of information between senior protective security officers and industry. This would allow a quick-time sharing of information during major incidents.

The system is already in place for London and the new plan would allow the model to be replicated across the country. The London summit was organised following the recent terrorist attacks in Westminster, Manchester, Borough Market and Finsbury Park.

Around 300 delegates attended the half-day event which was opened by Security Minister Ben Wallace, who announced a £2 million innovation fund to help businesses find new ways to help tackle terrorism.

He said: “We are calling on the best and the brightest from the science and technology sector to come forward with their ideas and proposals to support our ongoing work to keep people safe.”

More information about reducing the threat from terrorism and mitigating the effect of an attack can be found on the NaCTSO website. This includes detailed sector specific information and also the three five-minute videos that have been developed with ABTA and the FCO.

They can be viewed separately or as a packaged entitled ‘Introduction to CT Awareness’. A downloadable leaflet is also available.

www.gov.uk/nactso

Engaging with the public to prevent terrorism

Michael Lyons — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 09:10:45 +0000

Policing & Law Enforcement

Following the nationwide launch of the Make Nothing Happen campaign, the National Police Chiefs’ Council explains how officers are urging the public to stay alert, report suspicious behaviour and help prevent attacks like those seen in Westminster last month

Even in the hi-tech world of counter terrorism policing, a good old fashion tip-off from the public is still welcome. In fact, it could be more important than ever. To press the point home, the latest campaign from the National Police Chiefs’ Council is calling on the public to play a part in tackling terrorism by contacting police if they have any concerns about suspicious behaviour. Officers are keen to spread the message that the key to preventing an atrocity like that seen in Westminster could rest with anyone.

With the widespread availability of encrypted communications, and the increasingly rapid speed at which vulnerable individuals can be radicalised, police want a whole-community approach to help spot and stop would-be attackers. Ultimately one short call or online report to police could help prevent mass murders like those seen in London, Nice, Berlin, Brussels and many other towns and cities across the globe.

The ‘Make Nothing Happen’ campaign, costing £750,000 and rolled out nationwide, aims to demonstrate to the public how they can help strengthen the intelligence pictures held on the UK’s top terror suspects and those yet to come to police attention. Launched in Manchester just weeks before the Westminster tragedy, it is the first project under the new CT Policing branding platform, ACT: Action Counters Terrorism. This is an innovative new tool to bring all counter terrorism campaigns under one banner, urging the public to act on their instincts and report suspicious activity to the police.

At the launch senior officers revealed that ordinary members of the community had contributed important intelligence to around a third of their current ‘high-risk’ investigations. This included providing new leads or corroborating facts for around 30 on-going cases. However, while grateful for the assistance, officers explained they were keen to understand how this figure could be increased, and what the barriers are preventing people from picking up the phone and sharing what they know.

As a result, National Counter Terrorism Policing HQ commissioned research that threw up some interesting results and illuminated public attitudes towards the extremist threat. On the plus side, the findings showed there was generally a positive attitude about the work CT police were doing to keep the public safe. The respondents also widely acknowledged that there was a responsibility on all communities to tackle terrorism. However, there was also a notable lack of understanding of what suspicious behaviour might look like, and almost a quarter of participants said they would not report concerns for fear of being thought time wasters.

Lucy D’Orsi, deputy assistant commissioner, appointed the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for protective security at the end of 2016, said: “The research gave us a real insight into how the public view terrorism, the policing response, and the contribution they can make.

“We found both a desire to help police but also a reticence and we realised we needed to work to overcome the reasons for this. We needed to demonstrate to people that if they call us, and their concern turns out to be nothing, that is absolutely fine. No one is going to get into trouble and our response will be completely proportionate. It's important we convince those who worry they might be wasting our time that we would rather it proves nothing than risk missing something crucial.

"Sadly, just a short time after launching the campaign, we were again appealing for information from the public about a specific individual who had been responsible for the deaths in Westminster of four innocent people and injuries to many more. It was a painful illustration of just how important information from the public could be to us."

The CT policing network
To illustrate these points, the communications effort around the campaign focused on a major press launch, held in Manchester to emphasise the national nature of the CT policing network, producing social media videos, radio adverts and – in a first for policing – a podcast entitled ‘Code Severe’. This outlined two real-life attack planning investigations that received a major boost following calls from the public, and otherwise could have caused mass casualties in crowded places.

BAFTA-nominated actor Mark Strong narrates the tales – one involving a terrorist network plot to cause multiple deaths and injuries with a fertiliser bomb and the other a lone actor who was experimenting with IEDs to detonate in a shopping centre. Both cases resulted in successful prosecutions.

The two accounts include contributions from detectives, surveillance officers and members of the public who made the all-important calls. In one part, a senior investigating officer recounts how an operative planting a listening device in the home of a key suspect realised he was missing a screwdriver after taking an inventory of his equipment. With the suspect due to return at any moment, the officer had to act quickly to recover the missing item before the operation was compromised.

Code Severe went on to reach number two in the podcast charts, beating established offerings from the BBC like the weekly film review and Desert Island Discs.

D’Orsi adds: “We committed considerable funds to the campaign so needed to be innovative in order to get the public's attention. The news agenda is so competitive we looked at breaking new ground by trying something different. A media company worked alongside our communications team to advise us on how to maximise our coverage.

“But the true test of whether the investment was a good one is if we have succeeded in convincing people to feel confident in calling us. We will undertake a full evaluation of the campaign in due course but in the short term we can see that the number of calls we received to the Anti-Terrorist Hotline and online referrals via the gov.uk/ACT website increased following the coverage we received.

"In the first week calls to the hotline were up 67 per cent and referrals to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit almost quadrupled. We were trending at number two on Twitter on the first day and increased the number of people following the official @TerrorismPolice by 28 per cent. So the early signs were very encouraging."

D’orsi will be the most senior CT officer speaking at this May’s Security & Counter Terror Expo at Olympia, and will use the opportunity to tell her audience of security professionals that the terror threat is becoming increasingly complex and varied.

In the wake of the incident in Westminster, she will outline the latest developments in the police's approach to protective security.

She comments: “The official threat level remains at 'Severe' meaning an attack is highly likely. It continues to diversify and expand. This is seen in cases where terrorists have been able to reach across the world to radicalise often vulnerable, volatile or chaotic individuals and groups, and inspire and direct them using instant and secure communications.

“Counter terrorism policing is working hard to keep the public safe. Together, the UK intelligence community (MI5, SIS, GCHQ) and police have disrupted 13 UK terrorist attack plots since June 2013. However, advances in technology make it more complex and challenging for us to spot would-be terrorists because it's easier for them to be in contact with others and be radicalised in a relatively short space of time.

“The threat is becoming more varied with a move towards low-tech attacks on crowded places, like those we have seen in London, major European cities and beyond. It is a challenging landscape for us and our international partners."

Police will use this year’s Expo to highlight the work they are currently doing with the haulage industry following the attacks using HGVs in Nice and Berlin which killed 98 and injured hundreds more.

Information sharing with vehicle owners and drivers has been central to raising awareness. Again officers have been reassuring this particular sector that calls to the Anti-Terrorist Hotline to raise concerns will be dealt with proportionately and confidentially by a specialist team.

D’Orsi will also cover the changing pathways to radicalisation, the continuing challenges resulting from the growth of social media and the work being carried out by the world’s first Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU). Since the department’s launch in 2010 it has worked with international partners and industry to remove over a quarter of a million pieces of terrorist literature online.

ACT campaign research
  The research used to shape the ACT campaign was commissioned by National Counter Terrorism Policing Head Quarters and carried out by an external agency. In total 2,198 adults across England, Wales and Scotland were asked about attitudes towards aspects of CT policing.

Key findings were:  

More information about the ACT campaign, how to contact the Anti-Terrorist Hotline (0800789321) and the CTIRU, can be found at gov.uk/ACT.

www.npcc.police.uk

Working with the private security industry

CTB — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 15:16:41 +0000

Policing & Law Enforcement

Sitting in my apartment, I noticed the blue lights flashing through my windows. Thinking Christmas had come a little early I looked outside and saw three fire engines. As it turns out the flat below was having a minor emergency with their washing machine and called the fire brigade to assist.

My first thought was that three fire engines was a bit excessive for such a minor incident. However, when you consider the potential danger of a reported fire in a residential block it was probably appropriate. It also got me thinking just how lucky we are to have such a fast, efficient and professional emergency service response. It’s easy to take for granted that here in the UK we have built up exceptional levels of expertise and good practice in health and safety and security. The emergency services have learned important lessons from many experiences and certainly do not come cheap. But when it comes down to a real emergency you really need those skills.

The cost of time
When I think back to my career in the police service I can remember times when I spent hours trying to solve problems for members of the public. Sometimes relatively minor issues like people who had locked their car keys inside their car! If you considered the cost of a police officer’s time it would perhaps not look like a good economic use of public services. But it’s also a key part of building a relationship between the police and the public. It has helped to keep our police and our society united.

The police are there to help in troubled times, not just when you have suffered or committed a crime. A happy society cannot always be judged on cost alone. Why do we call out an expensive fire engine to get a cat out of a tree? Why? - well it’s because they care.

Why do ambulance staff spend time making a cup of tea for an old person who has called them for some imagined illness, but who is really just lonely and needs some human interaction. Ask any police, fire or ambulance officer and they will be able to give you examples. But times are changing, the present government has no option but to deal with the overspending of the past. We understand that austerity is required to some extent in order to reduce debt for future generations, but are we aware of what reductions in police, fire brigade and ambulance services will really mean?

No longer can we expect to see a police officer patrolling the streets talking to the public and having the time to build the trust and relationships that remind people they really are human. The number of patrolling police officers has dropped so much in the last 30 years that you are now more likely to see a member of the Salvation Army on the street and police officers don’t have the time to interact with the community in the way that I was able to do during my service. Most people in the United Kingdom have a fondness for the police force as a result of good interactions with friendly neighbourhood police officers from generation to generation.

So whilst the police cuts have been tempered somewhat it’s still important for people to realise their officers are no longer as available to them as they were in the past.

During the last election I didn’t hear real discussions about the impact of austerity on policing our society. Are we prepared for private security companies to take over looking after the security of our neighbourhoods and communities?

I think behind her mask that is what the �鶹�� Secretary believes is the way forward.
Maybe we won’t miss a local beat officer because gradually over the last 30 years those big hatted constables have been changed into plain clothed officers, hidden in offices, dealing with the next big issue – whether that be cold case reviews, counter terrorism, fraud or cyber crime.

But the current situation is different. There are now so few officers on the beat that it really signals a complete withdrawal. Our society is moving online but let’s not forget that we also need to feel reassured that we are safe in our real life communities.

This change in policing heralds major issues for our society and it seems to have been brushed under the carpet.

Security providers
There are many security companies who will be rubbing their hands together at the thought of providing a community security service. It’s no coincidence that G4S has snapped up the services of former Chief Constable Nick Gargan. They have already heard the mood music from the �鶹�� Office and I don’t blame them, as many communities will be able to pay for extra patrols.

But for each of those who can pay there will be many that can’t. And who is going to keep them safe with a 24 hour presence?

There’s no doubt security providers have an increasing part to play in policing. All businesses need to do their bit to reduce their vulnerabilities. They cannot rely on the police anymore (if actually there ever really was a time when they could) to investigate business crime.

If every shoplifting incident was registered as a crime the true crime figures would go through the roof. Likewise there’s the burgeoning issue of dealing with cyber crime. It’s difficult to foresee police resources being deployed to anything but the most serious of cases. That leaves a massive hole that private security companies can fill.

I believe we will see more and more private prosecutions, or at least private investigations which lead to the criminal court. There is already nothing to prevent a private prosecution but this option is usually ignored.
I can imagine groups of companies with a specific crime problem employing private investigators to deal with types of crime impacting their businesses. More use will also be made of private security to secure areas in the public realm.

The problems for policing continue to grow. There’s too much to do, a reluctance to take difficult management decisions and more burdensome red tape.

This is combined with a demanding public where the availability of easy communication through mobile phones has multiplied the number of requests for police assistance.

Something has to give and I would argue that it already has. A single walking beat officer has become an endangered species. It’s a situation we should reverse, and quickly.

Whilst there is a big place for private security companies carrying out many of the current police duties, routine patrolling by police officers should be the first point of call for the public.

Further information

Action against forged identity documents

CTB — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 11:43:18 +0000

Policing & Law Enforcement

We all have identity documents – or at least we think we do. Did you know that, in the UK, there are only two documents that are legally recognised as identity documents? One of these you will never personally use. The first is your birth certificate, and the one you’ll never see is your death certificate.

For this reason, along with the fact that we do not have a national identity card, we have, over time, come to accept other documents issued to us as identity documents. The two most obvious examples of this are the UK passport and driving licence. But they were never designed to be used by people to prove their identity; the driving licence is a document that evidences the individual’s authority to drive a motor vehicle on a road, whilst the passport was designed to allow an individual to cross foreign borders.

Criminals are aware of this anomaly and keen to exploit it. A counterfeit document (one that has been wholly created from new) such as a driving licence can be used by a fraudster to assert his identity to gain employment, to open a bank account and to receive his wages. The counterfeit licence can be used to obtain genuine documents that can be used in conjunction or in place of the original counterfeit document. Organised gangs are costing UK PLC millions of pounds every year, as they use this and other forms of fraud to target the economy.

AIDING TERRORIST ACTIVITY
The manufacture and subsequent use of false identities pave the way for a wide range of organised crime, including identity theft; human smuggling and trafficking; economic fraud; illegal immigration; terrorism, and other national security threats.

Criminal and terrorist organisations pay top money for quality counterfeits, which they commonly use to facilitate their illicit activities. For example, reports indicate that the Al Qaida terrorist organisation and 9/11 hijackers made use of fraudulent passports, use of fraudulent passports, visas, and entry and exit stamps in their international travels.

PARTNERSHIP
Project Genesius is an initiative that has been running since 2007. It is a partnership between the Metropolitan Police Service and the secure printing industry. It exists to prevent organised criminal gangs from obtaining the equipment required to create counterfeit or forged identity documents. It was initiated in response to an emerging trend that was seeing organised criminal groups from abroad arriving in the UK and setting up document ‘factories’ to provide identity documents, enabling illegal travel and economic crime to take place within the UK.

The most popular type of document to make is the identity card, be it a driving licence or a national ID card issued by many governments in Europe. As previously mentioned, we have come to accept the driving licence as an identity card and now not just the UK driving licence but all driving licences and national identity cards. This is in spite of the fact that the large majority of people requesting them have no idea how to differentiate between a genuine licence and a counterfeit one.

Genesius started by identifying the main manufacturers of identity cards available in the UK and sitting them around a table where they were informed their products were being used to create counterfeit documents. As competitors in business they were asked to unite with law enforcement to take on these organised criminal groups. They all agreed and provided police with a list of their UK resellers, who make up the bulk of the Genesius membership.

CODE OF CONDUCT
All Genesius members are asked to follow a voluntary code of conduct which involves ensuring strong ‘know your customer’ (KYC) procedures are in place and keeping accurate records of sales made. We also provide advice on what would constitute a suspect order, and ask that we be informed of any such requests.

Genesius membership has grown to accommodate all industries which can be exploited during the creation of identity documents. This includes hologram manufacturers, security paper merchants, rubber stamp manufacturers, plastic card suppliers, used equipment dealers, hot foil press suppliers and many more. All information received from Genesius members is fully researched and stored under strict compliance with existing data protection regulations.

Genesius, named after the patron saint of printers, is the first part of a three-tier strategy the MPS uses to combat identity crime. The second is Operation Maxim, a pro-active unit whose remit is to enforce activity against ‘identity document factories.’ They will carry out surveillance, disruption and prosecution of the individuals running these ‘factories.’

The final tier is Amberhill, a unit designed to hinder the use of counterfeit documents. Amberhill collate all counterfeit documents – including those identified by seizing the hard drives from the document factories – extracts the relevant information and places it onto a dedicated database which currently holds over 90,000 counterfeit identity documents. The documents include most well known UK documents (licences, passports SIA cards, CSCS, bank statements, immigration permits, etc) as well as driving licences, passports and national ID cards from Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and the USA.

The hard drives are the customer database for the criminal gangs concerned and contain details of all identities that the gang has created. The gangs keep accurate records in case of repeat business from regular customers. Genesius can also help to identify when and where the printers were purchased, which provides further evidence of offending.

FURTHER INFORMATION
www.projectgenesius.org.uk