Businesses can play a key role in supporting the police by remaining vigilant, being security minded and having good security measures in place.
You can protect your business against crime and make the work of terrorists more difficult. A small investment in security measures greatly enhances the feeling of security on behalf of everyone and helps protect those around you; as well as training your staff to detect potential threats. Particularly in busy places, businesses play a vital role in fighting terrorism and staff are often first to spot signs that something is wrong.
Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs)
Lancashire Police, together with police forces throughout the United Kingdom, is better trained and equipped than ever before to combat the threat of International and Domestic terrorism. The Force, as part of the ongoing national counter terrorism strategy, has dedicated Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSA’s) who are coordinated, trained and tasked by the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), a police unit co-located with the Centre for the Protection of the National Infrastructure (CPNI).
The primary role of these advisors is to provide protective and counter terrorism security advice to support businesses. The advice available takes into account both conventional and non-conventional terrorist techniques and the aim is to reduce vulnerability to terrorist threats. The CTSA’s work closely with other police forces throughout the country, government departments and other agencies.
The public can play a key role in supporting the police. By remaining vigilant, being security minded and having good security measures in place, you can protect your business against crime and make the work of terrorists more difficult. A small investment in security measures greatly enhances the feeling of security on behalf of everyone and helps to protect those around you.
For non urgent crime prevention advice, businesses can contact their local police crime reduction officer, but if you feel that your company could benefit from counter terrorism security advice, contact details are as follows:
Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSA’s):
Counter Terrorism Branch
Lancashire Constabulary HQ
Hutton, Preston
PR4 5SB
Tel: 01772 412916 / 413365
Email: [email protected]
The CTSA’s would also like to remind you that if you consider anything to be suspicious or connected with terrorism to contact Lancashire Police on 101 or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.
If it is an emergency remember to dial 999.
Information about the Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT)
The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and the national network of Police Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs) are working on reducing the vulnerability of crowded places sites across the UK. Many of these crowded places consist of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) that may not have necessarily considered themselves as, or even “part of “a crowded place.
The Crowded Places Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT), which has been developed by NaCTSO in partnership with leading businesses across the UK, will assist owners, operators or those responsible for security of crowded places to determine their vulnerability to terrorist attack.
What is VSAT?
The self assessment consists of 33 questions and should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete and will provide you with an understanding of what you need to put in place thereby reducing your vulnerability to a terrorist attack. The online assessment will also produce a report of recommendations. In order to protect your business interest and commercial sensitivities the report will only be available to the individual user. The overall assessment result will be displayed without showing numerical values but will assist you in prioritising where you may need to make improvements. Following the initial launch users will be able to view a business sector base line to see how their assessments fair compared with other assessments within the UK.
What VSAT will provide you with?
The VSAT will provide you with: -
- Signposting to ‘Best Practice’
- A 12 months Business Continuity Management Tool
- Increased local engagement with Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs)
- Training opportunities and details of other Counter Terrorism initiatives
- A written assessment report with recommendations covering: -
Physical Security
Personnel Security
Information Security
Good Housekeeping; and
Risk Management
The Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool will provide a means for you to identify and reduce the vulnerability to your establishment and help protect our communities.
How do I Register?
You can register by contacting Lancashire Police CTSAs on telephone number 01772 413365 or by email. Once registered you will receive an e-mail from NaCTSO instructing you how to logon.
CTSA Projects
Project Argus
Project ARGUS is a National Counter Terrorism Security Office initiative, exploring ways to aid you in preventing, handling and recovering from a terrorist attack.
It achieves this by taking businesses through a simulated terrorist attack. This simulation identifies the measures to take for preventing, handling and recovering from a terrorist attack. It provides you with a unique opportunity to both learn from and contribute to valuable lessons helping to protect you, your business and your community, whether you are a national chain or a small business.
More Information can be found on Project Argus.
Crowded Places
CONTEST, the UK's Counter-terrorism strategy, aims to reduce the risk to the United Kingdom and its interests overseas from terrorism, so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence
More Information can be found on CONTEST.