Public safety the priority

by Mark Rowe

Public safety is now a priority for the security industry, writes our regular contributor Jim Gannon.

The Brexit and the pro-European campaigners continued last month to occupy our news and media headlines with their versions of why we should stick with Europe or leave it. As they slugged it out news-grabbing revelations fuelled by the public’s need for true facts, the Office for National Statistics in May reported that official net migration to the UK in 2015 rose to 333,000. While this has been reported among other things as putting extra strain on our public services, the UK security authorities are not without their own problems. Britain’s Border Forces struggle to protect our 7700 miles of coastline against illegal immigration with allegedly only three dedicated vessels available to carry out the task. As information is made known about illegal migrants slipping into remote coastal locations in small boats and the French and Dutch police smashing rings involved in people trafficking to the UK, why am I not surprised to hear concern being expressed about our border controls. In addition we learn from the Metropolitan Police that public safety is now high on the agenda for those agencies responsible for keeping the public safe.

Music festivals and sports
Events which attract large crowds are now high on the agenda for those responsible for public safety which now of course includes the private security sector. After the terror attacks in Paris in November the European football tournament in France will see a significant security presence to ensure the safety of both the teams and their fans. Neil Basu, the Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner, who has the responsibility for UK protective security, has warned that crowded entertainment events and venues were right at the top of the agenda with Isis suicide bombers posing the principal threat to public safety. As one of Britain’s most senior anti-terrorism officers he has highlighted that the summer season of music festivals, big sports events and popular night-club venues around the UK are all on high alert as potential targets for terrorist attacks. The Met Deputy Commissioner was quoted as saying potentially such attacks could take place any time, any place, anywhere. Whilst I am sure those engaged in security awareness and protection at such venues are already fully engaged in securing the safety of their visitors, it makes one think about other places of public entertainment and where high volumes of the public gather. Such places now potentially fall into a possible target for such attacks. This includes those locations which do not necessarily have the benefit of dedicated, focused security protection being given by members of our industry or the police.

Alert
There has probably never been such a high demand in this country for the tools of our trade to be put to good effect especially CCTV, scanning devices, sniffer dogs and trained personnel. With football stadiums and music venues being potentially prime targets the Met Police have hosted anti-terrorism briefings to drive home to the decision-makers at such venues, how important effective security measures can be. With events like Glastonbury in June hosting around 130,000 people in an enclosed perimeter, it is not difficult to understand what security measures are needed to maximise public safety and the problems this causes for the organisers of such events. This is where members of the private security industry are seen at their best, working effectively with the police. Neil Basu has also been quoted as stating that crowded spaces such as shopping centres and airports remain potential targets; and we have seen the effects of attacks in such locations abroad to understand clearly why such areas are a concern. Once again the security industry features significantly at these locations.

Cause and effect
While Neil Basu has said his nightmare scenario would be a repeat of the Paris attack in central London, I know from a four day visit I made to London in April how serious the Met Police are taking the current threat. I have never seen so many police on the streets and the level of those armed, plus the number of police vehicles left parked in high profile locations in central London. The message comes across loud and clear. We have observed over the last 18 months how serious single attacks by terrorists have virtually destroyed tourism in Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey, thus ruining their economies in the aftermath. Apart from the significant loss of life and the misery this causes, we should not underestimate the overall effect it has had on these countries and the people who still live there.

The end game
The latest information only comes weeks after Home Secretary Theresa May alarmed MPs when she announced cuts to our Border Forces at a time of reported heightened security. Concerns over these cuts were raised after Isis allegedly used the migrant route as a cover to travel undetected from the Middle East to launch devastating terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels. While all major cities in Europe remain on alert, Neil Basu’s warning that an attack could take place anytime, any place, anywhere still rings in my ears.

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