Case Studies

AVIVA do Servator

by Mark Rowe

We’ve been featuring Project Servator – the police tactic to deploy various assets at unpredictable times to deter and disrupt criminals including hostile reconnaissance by terrorists – since 2013, begun by City of London Police (CoLP). Now specialist officers from the City force have joined security staff at a business, the insurer AVIVA, in a Servator deployment.

As police say, the project also means more interaction between police, local businesses and the general public who can act as the eyes and ears for the police; as official advertising (pictured from 2014; hoarding signage) for years has been careful to stress.

CoLP officers and members of the Mounted Unit and Tactical Firearms Group (TFG) joined AVIVA security staff on a patrol, training them on how to spot suspicious behaviour and potential threats, and keep their local community safe.

AVIVA security Operations Manager, Wayne Taylor, said: “The officers were very engaging and the knowledge they passed on has definitely stepped up the confidence amongst our security team, along with their awareness. What was really good to see was the public engagement with our team after the City of London Police officers had moved on. It made us realise the long-lasting impact of these patrols and how worthwhile they really are.”

Police Sergeant, Matthew Timms, said: “One of the key components of keeping the City safe and secure is ensuring that the police work alongside the business sector in creating a hostile environment for crime and terrorism. It was great to work with AVIVA and we welcome all of their efforts in ensuring the safety of our community. We look forward to collaborating with them again in the near future and would encourage any other local businesses who are interested in getting involved in Project Servator to get in touch.”

The City of London Police report that Servator has led to 381 arrests with 63pc of stop and searches resulting in an arrest, caution or fixed penalty notice since its inception in February 2014 (to April 2016); a far higher percentage of ‘result’ searches, that is, than previously.

Visit the City of London Police website for more on Servator – https://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/community-policing/project-servator/Pages/Project-Servator.aspx.

Professional Security last reported on Servator in the City in our December 2014 print edition.

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