Even if you’re a retailer without a restaurant or hotel on your premises, you may be in their vicinity, and face a sudden, violent act of terrorism. In a Mumbai-style attack all could come under attack anyway.
New from the NACTSO – guidance for hotels and restaurants.
The guidance says: "It is recognised that there is a need to maintain a friendly and welcoming atmosphere within the hotel and restaurant environments and this guide is not intended to create a ‘fortress mentality’. There is however a balance to be achieved where those responsible for security are informed that there are robust protective security measures available to mitigate against the threat of terrorism, eg protection from flying glass and vehicle access controls into crowded areas, goods and service yards and underground car parks." As the document points out, the June 2007 failed bombers at Haymarket in central London and others target crowded places, whether night-clubs, or – as is in the public domain after a terrorist court trial – shopping malls such as Bluewater. The guide stresses also business continuity planning, to ensure that your premises can cope with an incident or attack and return to ‘business as usual’ as soon as possible. For advice, ask your police force’s Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs). Also stressed is that a business may simply have to reinstate good basic security: Many of the security precautions typically used to deter criminals are also effective against terrorists. So before you invest in additional security measures, review what you already have in place."
Covered in the 70-page guide are access control; CCTV; mail handling; search and evacuation planning; personnel security; information Security; Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs); Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR); hostile reconnaissance; and suicide, firearm and weapon attacks.
The guide says: "Hostile reconnaissance is used to provide information to operational planners on potential targets during the preparatory and operational phases of terrorist operations. Reconnaissance operatives may visit potential targets a number of times prior to the attack. Where pro-active security measures are in place, particular attention is paid to any variations in security patterns and the flow of people in and out."
People doing reconnaissance may take pictures or film, or make notes or sketches of building layouts or CCTV. Operatives may be disguised as demonstrators or street sweepers; or may stop and pretend to have car trouble to test response time for emergency services or car recovery companies. Strangers walking around perimeter; people loitering; vehicles looking out of place; anything that seems unusual should be reported. The guide points out that before the London attacks on July 7, 2005, the bombers staged a trial run nine days before their actual attack. View at –
