Training

Run, hide, tell

by Mark Rowe

Those three words are the police advice if you are faced by armed attack. A four minute film, Stay Safe: Firearms and Weapons Attack sets out three key steps for keeping safe. The film is accompanied by an online information leaflet.

The film and leaflet advise that if you are caught up in an incident to ‘run, hide and tell’.

Speaking on behalf of National Counter Terrorism Policing, Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Neil Basu, said: “The public should not be alarmed by this step. While the general level of threat to the UK is SEVERE, the probability of being caught up in a firearms or weapons attack is very, very small. However, it is important the public know what to do in the event of getting caught up in such an incident.

“Our advice has already been issued to tens of thousands of people during police-led security training sessions but it is only responsible that we issues this public safety guidance more widely.

“We know that from case studies and the testimony of people who have survived attacks that the advice given in the film has saved lives.

“With the threat level remaining at a high level, the police and security service continue to operate at a heightened state of readiness – we are working on hundreds of investigations and making an arrest a day. However, it is only with the ongoing support of communities that we can defeat terrorism – you are our eyes and ears so please be alert, but not alarmed.

“We are asking everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour or activity to the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321 or in an emergency, 999.

As a comparison, you can also view the US equivalent, ‘run hide fight’, covering campuses, hotels and other places that may be at risk from an ‘active shooter’; for example on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/.

View also on the FBI website. In 2014 the FBI released a study of ‘active shooter’ incidents. The Bureau pointed to the need to prepare for rapidly-unfolding incidents. The largest percentage of incidents—45.6 percent—took place in a commercial environment (73 incidents), followed by 24.3 percent in an educational environment (39 incidents). The remainder occurred at the other location types specified in the study: open spaces, military and other government properties, residential properties, houses of worship, and health care.

Related News

  • Training

    Coppers’ culture

    by msecadm4921

    Police should be given more time every week to explicitly reflect on their decisions, habits and attention to mitigate against institutionalised problems…

  • Training

    SCTX 2019

    by Mark Rowe

    Security & Counter Terror Expo (SCTX) will return to London on March 5 and 6, the two-day show running on the Tuesday…

  • Training

    Award for apprentice

    by Mark Rowe

    One of C-TEC’s young apprentices, Richard Finch, has been awarded a prize. Due to his involvement in the development of C-TEC’s new…

Newsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay on top of security news and events.

© 2024 Professional Security Magazine. All rights reserved.

Website by MSEC Marketing