Counter Terror Business 60

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CONTENTS

CONTENTS CTB 60 7

14

NEWS

27

20

CTB60

SURVEILLANCE

35

MARTYN’S LAW

52

47

EVENT SECURITY

MARTYN’S LAW

57

ZONE EX

66

63

PUBLIC SAFETY

THE SECURITY EVENT

74

VAWG

81

78

PREVENT DUTY

SOCIAL MEDIA

86

CYBER SECURITY

90

HOSTILE RECONNAISSANCE

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

Counter Terror Business magazine // www.counterterrorbusiness.com ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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NEWS

NATIONAL SECURITY

MI5 Director General gives annual threat update The director general of MI5, Ken McCallum has given his annual update on the current national security threats facing the UK. Delivering the speech from the Counter Terrorism Operations Centre (CTOC) in London, he pointed out that the threat terrorism, alongside ongoing efforts by autocratic states to harm the UK’s security, presented the most complex threat environment we have ever seen.

McCallum began his speech by focussing on terrorism. Since March 2017, MI5 and the police have together disrupted 43 late-stage attack plots.

The split of MI5’s counter terrorism work is roughly 75 per cent Islamist extremist, 25 per cent extreme right-wing terrorism. However, he highlighted a shift and pointed out that straightforward labels like “Islamist terrorism” or “extreme right wing” don’t fully reflect the range of beliefs and ideologies that are out there.

He said that there are more would-be terrorists with a tenuous grasp of the ideologies they say they follow. This applies to people viewing both extreme right wing and Islamist extremist instructional material, along with other bits of online hatred, conspiracy theories and disinformation.

Comparing to work on Al-Qaeda, McCallum said that nowadays it’s harder for investigators and their police counterparts to quickly and definitively determine whether an act of violence is ideologically motivated or driven by another factor...

CONTINUE READING

BORDER SECURITY

New funding announced for border security The government has announced an extra £75 million of funding to boost border security.

The boost will bring the total investment in the Border Security Command over the next two years to £150 million.

The prime minister made the announcement at a meeting of the INTERPOL General Assembly in Glasgow. INTERPOL’s supreme governing body and comprises senior ministerial and policing leads from the 196 member states. This is the first time the Assembly has been hosted in the UK for over 50 years.

Keir Starmer plans to draw on his experience of bringing together agencies to tackle international terrorist and drug smuggling gangs during his time as Director of Public Prosecutions to dismantle the people smuggling gangs.

His speech set out how the £150 million will provide additional specialist investigators and state-of-the-art surveillance equipment.

Initially the funding will be directed towards a range of enforcement and intelligence activity. This includes investing heavily in NCA technology and capabilities, delivering advanced data exploitation and improvements to technologies to boost collaboration with European partners to investigate and break people smuggling networks.

There will be 300 staff for the new Border Security Command, tasked with strengthening global partnerships, delivering new legislation and leading the system through investment and strategy. There will also be 100 specialist investigators and intelligence officers for the NCA, dedicated to tackling criminals who facilitate people smuggling...

CONTINUE READING

ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Counterterrorism at Cranfield We understand that the threat of terror related events not only impacts civilian society, but business and energy infrastructure, economic networks and vital communication routes.

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NEWS

POLICING

Policing set to reform, home secretary announces Home secretary Yvette Cooper has given a speech at the annual conference hosted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, announcing her major reforms for the British police force.

These included a new Police Performance Unit to track performance data and improve standards, a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to rebuild trust from the ground up between local forces and their communities, and a new National Centre of Policing to utilise new technology and forensics to keep up with the changing nature of crime.

The home secretary also announced more than £500 million of additional policing funding to support the government’s Safer Streets Mission, including an increase in police force allowance, and extra resources for neighbourhood policing, the NCA and counterterrorism.

Without major overhaul to restore public confidence, the British tradition of policing by consent is at risk, emphasised Yvette Cooper.

These proposed changes will ensure that policing will have the national capabilities to fight unpredictable, unprecedented, and complex crimes.

The home secretary’s reforms come as part of a strategy to reset the relationship between the government and the police force. The Home Office now intends to take a more proactive approach in driving improvements by working directly with police leaders, and ensuring policing is set up to succeed by enforcing strong government structures...

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TRAINING

SIA introduces mandatory refresher training The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has introduced new mandatory refresher training for door supervisors and security guards.

The training will be compulsory for those wishing to renew a licence after 1 April 2025.

The qualifications update safety-critical skills door supervisors and security guards use to keep the public safe. The SIA encourages affected licence holders to take the training as soon as possible.

It is available nationally from approved training providers.

Tony Holyland, head of individual standards for the SIA, said: “Protecting the public is at the heart of what we do, and professional security operatives undergo training to give them the skills they need to keep people safe.

“We know that skills can fade over time, which is why the training being rolled out today is so important. This is about raising the standards in private security and refreshing those fundamental skills to help security operatives deal with the ever-changing threats of the modern world.”

This follows the announcement last month that the SIA introduced mandatory refresher training to help door supervisors and security guards refresh their skills and learn up-to-date content on topics including spiking and terror threat awareness.

Alongside the requirement to present an up-to-date Emergency First Aid certificate, refreshers on conducting searches, physical intervention and terror threat awareness will be included...

CONTINUE READING

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New national security adviser appointed Jonathan Powell has been announced as the prime minister’s national security adviser.

Powell is currently working as the CEO of Inter Mediate, a UK-based charity working on resolving international conflicts.

He is set to succeed Sir Tim Barrow who has served as National Security Adviser since September 2022.

Prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Jonathan has devoted his career to protecting the interests of the country, having served for seventeen years as a diplomat in the Foreign Office and ten years as Chief of Staff in No10, and I am delighted to appoint him to this important role.

“Together with his experience helping to negotiate the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and work on some of the world’s most complex conflicts, he is uniquely qualified to advise the Government on tackling the challenges ahead and engage with counterparts across the globe to protect and advance UK interests.

“I would also like to thank Sir Tim Barrow for his service and the support and advice he has given me. He has helped steer the national security community through some of the most challenging times in recent history, demonstrating throughout his outstanding commitment to public service and to the safety and security of this country. I’ve no doubt he will continue to play a positive role on these issues in the future.”

Jonathan Powell said: “I am honoured to have been appointed as the National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister. This is a hugely important role at a time where national security, international relations, and domestic policies are so interconnected...

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NEWS

NATIONAL SECURITY

More top news stories from www.counterterrorbusiness.com New Defence Industrial Strategy announced: READ MORE SIA launches winter safety campaign: READ MORE Home Affairs Committee to investigate policing of summer disorder: READ MORE Zombie knives and machetes banned: READ MORE NHS England announces change to cyber security strategy: READ MORE

MARTYN’S LAW

SIA publishes guidance on Martyn’s Law The Security Industry Authority has published guidance on who to contact with questions about Martyn’s Law. The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill will impose a legal duty on certain premises and events to take steps to reduce the likelihood of physical harm in the event of a terrorist attack.

The bill is currently on its way through parliament, and at this time, the Home Office is the government lead for the development of this legislation.

Therefore, any queries on the scope and nature of the duty and the role of the regulator for the legislation should be directed to the Home Office at: MartynsLaw@homeoffice.gov.uk READ MORE

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WHO WOULD BENEFIT MOST FROM USING A NECK MIC AND WHAT SITUATIONS ARE THEY SUITED TO? The Tactical Headsets are designed for individuals who operate in noisy environments where clear communication is crucial. This includes a wide range of professionals, such as military personnel, police officers, firefighters, security teams, and industrial workers. For military personnel, the Tactical Headsets offer a reliable communication tool that can perform in the most challenging conditions, ensuring that mission-critical information is transmitted clearly and without interference.

Police officers and firefighters, who often work in high-noise environments such as traffic or emergency situations, will find the Tactical Headsets invaluable for maintaining clear communication with their teams.

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CTB 60

CTB 60: 14 YEARS OF COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS In our 60th issue, we look back at the last 14 years of terrorism and counter terrorism Counter Terror Business was launched in 2010 in response to increased interest in security and counter terrorism coming from PSi’s other titles, as well as in government and the wider public.

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It was launched as a specialist publication distributed to heads of security, intelligence officers, procurement officials, and department heads in local and central government, to

CTB ALL CAPITALS 60 IN TAB

In October 2010, the government published a new National Security Strategy which identified terrorism as one of the four highest risks faced by the UK by the UK (the others being hostile attacks on cyber space, a major accident or natural hazard and an international military crisis between states). In the strategy, the government committed to giving top priority to countering the threat from terrorism at home and overseas.

In May 2010, MP Stephen Timms was stabbed by an Islamic extremist at a constituency surgery.

The Arab Spring began from late 2010, leading to the overthrow of leaders including Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia in 2011, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya in 2011, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in 2011, and Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen in 2012. This was followed by civil war in Syria, the rise of ISIS and years of unrest across the area.

inform about the latest in counter terror intelligence, technology and human resources.

Since then CTB has grown with a magazine, website and online and in-person events.

2010 2010 was the year of the coalition government.

At the time, the government said: “The terrorist threats we face now are more diverse than before, dispersed across a wider geographical area, and often in countries without effective governance. We therefore face an unpredictable situation, with potentially more frequent, less sophisticated terrorist attacks.

The then-government continued on with the Contest strategy, which is still in place today.

In October 2010, the government published a new National Security Strategy which identified terrorism as one of the four highest risks faced

2011 In March, two people were killed when a man opened fire at Frankfurt airport.

In April, Ronan Kerr, a catholic member of the PSNI was killed in a car bombing by suspected dissident republicans and in May, Osama bin Laden was killed by US Navy SEALS in Pakistan.

On 22 July, Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people and injured more than 300 in a bomb and shooting attack. A car bomb near the office of the prime minister killed eight people and injured at least 200. Less than two hours later, on the island of Utøya, Breivik opened fire on youth camp attendees, killing 69 and injuring 32. The attack is believed to be the deadliest mass shooting by a lone individual in modern history. It was also the deadliest attack in Norway since the Second World War. In July 2011, the government published the third version of Contest, which set out the threat the country faced and priorities for dealing with it through to 2016.

Also in 2011, Lord Carlile of Berriew carried out a review into the Prevent strategy, after which the strategy was updated to deal more proportionately with all kinds of terrorist threat and concentrate on some aspects of non-E ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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CTB 60

 violent extremism which create an environment conducive to radicalisation.

In December, the Terrorism Prevention and Investigations Measures Act 2011 introduced the new system of terrorism prevention and investigation measures.

These measures were intended to protect the public from people who pose a real terrorist threat to security but who cannot be prosecuted, or in the case of foreign nationals, deported.

In December, six people were killed and 125 injured in an attack in Liège, Belgium and on the same day, two people were killed and 3 injured in a racially-motivated attack in Florence, Italy.

2012 In March 2012, a radical Islamist killed seven people in Montauban and Toulouse in France. In July, a suicide bomber believed to be affiliated with Hezbollah, killed five Israeli tourists and a bus driver in Burgas, Bulgaria.

2012 was the year of the London Olympics, with one of the biggest security operations the country has ever seen. The final cost of the security operation was estimated to be £553 million, and the event played out without major incident.

The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 repealed the stop and search powers known as ‘Section 44’. It also reduced the maximum period that a terrorist suspect could be detained before they are charged or released from 28 to 14 days.

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In February 2014, Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula and then annexed it 2013 In April 2013, an Islamist attack killed three people and injured hundreds at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. A police officer was killed later in the day.

In May, Fusilier Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich.

2014 In February 2014, Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula and then annexed it.

In April 2014, 276 school girls were kidnapped from a school in Chibok, Nigeria, by Boko Haram and in May, a 22-year-old killed six people in what was described as a misogynistic terror attack in Isla Vista, California. Also in May, four people were killed in an attack at the Jewish Museum of Belgium, in Brussels.

In July, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing everyone on board.

Towards the end of the year, IS carried out a number of high-profile beheadings, including British aid workers, David Haines and Alan Henning.

In December, 17 people were taken hostage in a Lindt café in Sydney Australia. Two of the hostages were killed.

2016 In March 2016, 32 people were killed in coordinated terrorist attacks around Brussels, claimed by Islamic State. It was the deadliest attack in Belgium since the Second World War. The attackers were members of the same cell that had carried out the Paris attacks in 2014/ In June, the UK voted to leave the EU and prime minister David Cameron announced his resignation.

Also in June, a lone wolf who had pledged allegiance to Islamic State killed 49 people in a shooting at Pulse gay nightclub.

The same month, MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right extremist.

In July, 86 people were killed and more than 400 injured after a truck was driven into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

In November, the Investigatory Powers Act came into force. The Act introduced new powers, and restated existing ones, for British intelligence agencies and law enforcement to carry out targeted interception of communications, bulk collection of communications data, and bulk interception of communications.

In December, 13 people were killed and 55 injured in a truck attack at a Christmas market in Berlin.

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2015 2015 was a horrific year of attacks in France.

In January 2015, 12 people were killed and 11 injured in an attack at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The magazine had previously been attacked in 2011 and would be targeted again in 2020. A couple of days later, a man attacked a kosher market, held people hostage and killed four of them.

In June, an attacker decapitated one person and caused an explosion at a factory in SaintQuentin-Fallavier.

In November, 130 people were killed and 368 injured in coordinated attacks across Paris.

Three suicide bombers attacked outside the Stade de France, during an international football match, while another group of attackers fired at cafes and restaurants in Paris. 90 people were killed at a concert in the Bataclan theatre. This was the deadliest attack in Europe since the Madrid 2004 attack.

In the UK, the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act came into power in February. It included powers to help the UK respond to the threat of terrorism.

2015 was a horrific year of attacks in France There were other Islamist attacks that year, in Würzburg, Germany; Munich, Germany; Ansbach, Germany; Normandy, France; Charleroi, Belgium; Brussels, Belgium; and Hamburg, Germany.

2017 2017 was the worst year in recent memory for terrorist attacks in the UK. In March, Khalid Masood drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four people and injuring more than 50. He then drove into the gates of the Palace of Westminster and fatally stabbed a police officer.

In May, 22 people were killed and more than 800 injured in the Manchester Arena attack.

In June, 8 people were killed and 48 injured in the London Bridge attack.

Also in June, a man drove a van at pedestrians near Finsbury Park mosque, killing one and injuring 11.

30 people were injured in September, in an islamist attack at Parsons Green tube station.

The Barcelona attacks in August killed 16 and injured more than 150. A van drove into crowds in La Rambla, killing 13 people. One of the attackers fled, killed a man and stole his car, E ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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2021 began with the storming of the Capitol in Washington, following claims that the election had been stolen  which was then driven into police officers. A few hours later, another group of men, believed to be members of the same cell, drove into pedestrians in Cambrils, killing a woman.

2018 In March 2018, Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. Dawn Sturgess was killed after finding the discarded bottle.

In April, 11 people were killed when a van was driven into pedestrians in Toronto, Canada. The attacker was a self-described Incel.

In October, Jamal Khashoggi was killed in Turkey.

In December, there was a shooting near a Christmas market in Strasbourg.

2019 The Christchurch attack in March 2019 killed 51 people and injured 40 at two mosques. The attacker Brenton Tarrant published a manifesto online and cited Anders Behring Breivik as an inspiration.

Theresa May resigned as prime minister and was replaced by Boris Johnson.

Two people were killed by Usman Khan at London Bridge in November.

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2020 Following the Brexit Referendum, the UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020.

In January 2020, two inmates at Whitemoor prison, wearing fake suicide vests, stabbed a prison officer.

In February 2020, a man stabbed two people in Streatham and three people were killed in an attack in Reading.

Covid began dramatically spreading around the world in 2020. Lockdowns became the norm, and conspiracy theories spread quickly.

In October a teacher was beheaded after apparently showing cartoons of the prophet Muhammad to his students.

2021 2021 began with the storming of the Capitol in Washington, following claims that the election had been stolen.

In August, the US troops withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban rapidly took control of the country. Since then, they have banned girls going to school, imposed new dress codes on women, banned women from some public spaces and even banned women from talking in public.

In October 2021, MP David Amess was stabbed outside a constituency meeting in Leigh-on-Sea.

has killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza and also invaded Lebanon.

2022 In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, sparking the largest European conflict since the second world war. Millions of Ukrainians were displaced and tens of thousands of people killed.

In July 2022, following a series of scandals, dozens of staff resigned from Boris Johnson’s administration, Johnson then resigned. In September, Liz Truss became prime minister – two days before Queen Elizabeth II died.

Following a disastrous mini budget, Truss resigned after 45 days. Rishi Sunak became the fourth prime minister in as many years.

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated in Nara City.

In October 2022, a man threw petrol bombs at a migrant processing centre in Dover.

2024 2024 saw the return of a Labour government, with the conservatives suffering huge losses.

A short while later, three girls were murdered at a Taylor Swift dance class. Misinformation about the attack led to devastating riots across the country, with hundreds of people already having been sent to prison for their part.

Following two assassination attempts, Donald Trump was reelected as President of the United States.

The new government has made progress on Martyn’s Law, with it being introduced to parliament and stipulations from the Online Safety Act have come into effect.

Meanwhile, conflict has escalated in the Middle East and Ukraine.

2023 Finland joined NATO in April 2023.

In October 2023, two Swedish football fans were killed in Brussels.

On 7 October, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing over a thousand people and taking around 250 hostage. Since then, Israel

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In November, there was an explosion in a taxi outside Liverpool Women’s hospital.

2025 Going into 2025, we can expect further progress on Martyn’s Law. Conflicts around the world remain ongoing with no sign of any ease.

While we are no longer continuing to publish magazines, CTB will keep you updated on the website, with regular news, features and events. L

The new government has made progress on Martyn’s Law, with it being introduced to parliament and stipulations from the Online Safety Act have come into effect

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SURVEILLANCE

ADVANCING AI TECHNOLOGY: ETHICAL AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES IN AI-DRIVEN SECURITY Nearly 15 years ago, in our inaugural issue, Pauline Norstrom wrote about the launch of a new video content analysis guide produced by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA). In the intervening years, she held the position of chair of the Association and is now a non-executive Director and the CEO of a responsible AI company Anekanta®AI, specialising in AI risk mitigation This journey reflects the dramatic evolution of AI, generative AI (GenAI), and biometric-based security technologies, which now play a central role across sectors such as transportation, critical national infrastructure (CNI), retail, and education. These advancements, while transformative, bring a host of ethical and regulatory challenges.

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BIOMETRIC-BASED SECURITY: EXPANDING HORIZONS The use of biometric technology has extended far beyond traditional applications in access control. Today, facial recognition technology (FRT), combined with a range of AI techniques, underpins security solutions in environments as varied as airports, shopping centres, schools,

ETHICAL STANDARDS AND THE ROLE OF BSIA AND BS 9347 The ethical use of FRT and biometric systems has become a focal point in industry discussions. The BSIA has developed an ethical guide to facial recognition, providing a framework for responsible deployment.

Building on these principles, the recently introduced BS 9347 code of practice offers a

SURVEILLANCE ALL CAPITALS IN TAB

and sensitive infrastructure. Unlike earlier rulebased systems, modern AI-driven biometric solutions can: Learn and adapt: machine learning enables systems to improve continuously, recognising patterns and identifying novel risks without explicit programming.

Interpret context: multimodal AI systems combine biometric data with other sources, such as geolocation or transactional records, to deliver nuanced threat assessments.

Enhance situational awareness: generative AI models synthesise complex datasets, providing security teams with actionable insights presented in natural language.

While these innovations strengthen security capabilities, they also amplify the potential for privacy violations and raise concerns about bias and misuse.

While these innovations strengthen security capabilities, they also amplify the potential for privacy violations and raise concerns about bias and misuse comprehensive standard for the ethical use of FRT in video surveillance. This AI standard embeds the OECD principles for responsible AI throughout the supply chain, ensuring: Transparency: stakeholders are informed about how biometric data is collected, processed, and used.

Accountability: clear guidelines hold organisations accountable for ethical and legal compliance.

Fairness: systems are designed and implemented to minimise bias and ensure equitable treatment of individuals.

These standards provide a roadmap for organisations to navigate the complexities of deploying a range of AI and biometric technologies responsibly.

REGULATORY MOMENTUM: EU AI ACT AND ISO/IEC 42001 The regulatory environment surrounding AI and biometric technologies is maturing rapidly.

The EU AI Act represents a landmark in AI governance, introducing stringent requirements for high-risk systems processing sensitive data.

Although the UK has no plans to regulate FRT, key provisions of the EU AI Act include: Certification: biometric security products must undergo rigorous evaluation to demonstrate compliance with safety, fairness, and transparency requirements.

Public disclosure: organisations are required to inform individuals when AI systems are deployed in rights-impacting scenarios.

Prohibited uses: practices such as real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces are restricted unless justified by compelling public security needs.

In parallel, the ISO/IEC 42001 standard for AI Management Systems establishes a framework for a business to govern AI systems across their lifecycle. This aligns closely with the work of organisations like Anekanta®AI, which specialise in evaluating high-risk AI systems and guiding businesses through compliance with these emerging standards. E

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SURVEILLANCE

Practices such as real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces are restricted unless justified by compelling public security needs  BALANCING INNOVATION WITH RESPONSIBILITY The integration of biometric systems into diverse environments underscores the power and peril of AI-driven technologies. For example, combining FRT with geolocation or social media data creates a robust tool for threat detection but also risks encroaching on individual privacy. Ethical deployment requires: Transparency and consent: organisations must clearly articulate the purpose of AI systems and obtain informed and valid consent where applicable.

Oversight mechanisms: robust governance structures ensure human review of critical AI decisions.

Alignment with ethical frameworks: adherence to standards such as BS 9347 and regulation measures such as GDPR and the EU AI Act protects against misuse and safeguards civil liberties.

FOSTERING GOOD GOVERNANCE THROUGH BOARD ENGAGEMENT As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into organisational strategies, fostering good governance at the board level is critical. Anekanta®AI actively engages with

boards to build awareness and understanding of AI risk and governance. By providing tailored insights and frameworks, the company helps boards align their decision-making with ethical standards and regulatory requirements. This proactive approach ensures that organisations not only comply with emerging regulations but also embed responsible AI practices across their operations.

EVOLVING LEADERSHIP IN AI GOVERNANCE Over the past decade, the security industry has witnessed a significant shift in leadership roles and perspectives on AI governance.

For example, organisations like Anekanta AI exemplify this evolution, offering expertise in high-risk biometric AI and regulatory alignment.

The rise of AI-driven biometric technology presents a transformative opportunity to enhance security across sectors. However, with great capability comes great responsibility.

By embracing ethical standards like BS 9347, aligning with regulatory frameworks such as the EU AI Act and ISO/IEC 42001, and fostering transparency and accountability, the industry can build systems that respect human rights while addressing pressing security challenges.

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MARTYN’S LAW

MARTYN’S LAW 2024 Nick Aldworth, director and founder of CT Protect Ltd, and co-campaigner for Martyn’s Law with Figen Murray reflects on the journey to Martyn’s Law When Figen Murray walked into my office at New Scotland Yard, nearly six years ago, to tell me about her concerns for security at publicly accessible venues, little did I know I was meeting a new friend, a co-campaigner, or what the future would for us both. I certainly never thought I’d walk from Manchester to London!

Our meeting in 2019, and subsequent journey together, with Brendan Cox, is publicly recorded, and I’ll not recount it here, but I was never in doubt that this time would come. This time being when Martyn’s Law, or the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill as it is formally known, has had its second reading in the House of Commons and has started its journey to becoming part of the United Kingdom’s law.

The white paper that we published as the foundation for Martyn’s Law proposed that there should be five strands of activity:

a requirement for those that operate publicly accessible locations to undertake free awareness training; a requirement for publicly accessible locations to conduct vulnerability assessments; a requirement for those places to mitigate the risks created by those vulnerabilities; a requirement for those places to have a counter-terrorism plan; and a requirement for local authorities to have a counter terrorism plan.

THE BILL While the bill that is in parliament now looks quite different to those proposals, the core intention of mobilising society to protect itself against terrorism remains firmly intact.

The bill currently requires these functions to be wrapped up into protective security procedures for smaller premises, and for E

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The standard duty is a pragmatic and workable approach to mobilising society to be more resilient in the face of terrorist attacks  premises with greater numbers of people expected to be using them, measures that will reduce the likelihood of terrorism happening at those premises.

STANDARD DUTY What is now called the Standard Duty proposes that premises where there are likely to be between 200 and 799 people present at the same time and from time to time, should have a plan. That plan, as a minimum, should incorporate the following with the intent of reducing the consequences of a terrorist attack: a plan to evacuate the premises; a plan to invacuate people into the premises; a plan to lockdown all or parts of the premises and the ability to communicate the plan before and during an incident.

The standard duty is a pragmatic and workable approach to mobilising society to be more resilient in the face of terrorist attacks.

Throughout my career, I saw that having a plan made the difference between success and failure.

I am however disappointed that the threshold for being included in the legislation has changed from 100 to 200. I think that is a mistake by government because that one change removes about 100,000 premises from being in-scope of the legislation. It was unfortunate that a few ill-informed lobby groups were able to secure such leverage over government thinking and suggest that a simple plan was burdensome. I hope those people don’t end up carrying the burden of knowing their campaigning led to loss of life by signposting a weakness in our collective defence.

I respect the need for ministers to respond to political pressure and I simply hope that there are no more concessions on the threshold. That would undermine the legislation to the point of ineffectiveness. The best we can hope for is a mechanism in the legislation that permits the home secretary to keep that number under review, and change it according to prevailing circumstances.

LARGER VENUES Larger premises where 800 or more people are likely to be on the premises at the same time, from time to time, are required to meet all the conditions of the standard duty, plus take the following measures to reduce the risk of terrorism: monitor the premises or event, and their immediate vicinity; control the movement of individuals into, out of, and within the premises; provide physical security of the premises; and secure information which may assist in the planning, preparation, and execution of acts of terrorism.

The same standards are applied to public events of 800 or more, but only if the event is not taking place on premises already covered by the legislation, and where there is a degree of control over access. This certainly implies that events will only be covered if there is a secure boundary that excludes people who are simply going about their daily business in the area.

The government has announced that there will be a regulator and that regulator will sit within the SIA, and will have a range of, mostly civil, powers. Unsurprisingly, this announcement was met with a degree of disparagement from several quarters, including within parliament’s 2nd hearing. There are many things that need to be defined with this arrangement including the division of funding and resources which will presumably now originate from separate funding streams. E ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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 REGULATOR The Martyn’s Law regulator will first and foremost be an educator and that implies a need for collaboration with both National CT Security Office (NaCTSO) and the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA). That is likely to require a cultural shift by all parties to ensure that competing priorities can be aligned

The Martyn’s Law regulator will first and foremost be an educator

into a single delivery model. There are already existing relationships between NaCTSO and the SIA and I envisage this will run smoothly.

This has been a quick canter through recent developments. There is much more to say, especially about the changes in how thresholds might be calculated and demonstrated in law. A more complicated approach than using simple floor-area calculations, akin to fire safety regulations will, I believe, create loopholes and uncertainty. However, all these matters are now before a committee that will look at the bill, line-by-line, and take expert evidence to help it refine the law to be the best it can be.

It won’t be long now, before Martyn’s Law is on the statute books. Just writing those words sends shivers down my spine: it’s a really big deal, and an incredible achievement for a private citizen to bring about.

Of course, we have all come to know that Figen Murray is no ordinary private citizen. The indomitable spirit of a mother, grieving for a lost son, has a power like no other and there are five Prime Ministers, six home secretaries, and seven security ministers in her wake to testify to that.

Figen Murray said: “There is a degree of anxiety around for me as the debates on the legislation continue. I hope that MPs will make good decisions over the coming months to close all possible loopholes and to make this legislation as efficient as possible. MPs should have at the forefront of their minds that this legislation will save lives and at the end of the day one of the most important tasks of any government is the safety of its citizens. I look forward to the day Martyn’s Law enters the statute book.” L ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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WHY IS KEY CONTROL CONSIDERED A CRITICAL COMPONENT IN PREVENTING POTENTIAL THREATS WITHIN GOVERNMENT FACILITIES? Key control is without doubt a crucial core element in preventing threats within government facilities, is it a foundational security layer which maintains operational integrity; it helps secure high-risk areas with sensitive data, well-managed key control restricts areas whereby only authorised personnel can access, thus protecting critical infrastructure and classified information.

Key control very much limits the movement of individuals in a government facility which in turn reduces the insider threat and holds such to accountability with their responsibilities within the facility. Emergency preparation allows the facilities to be able to evacuate and lockdown the facilities in an organised and quick response time.

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HOW DOES KEY CONTROL CONTRIBUTE TO SAFEGUARDING SENSITIVE AREAS AND PERSONNEL IN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, PARTICULARLY AGAINST UNAUTHORISED ACCESS OR SABOTAGE? As per my previous response, particular areas where data breaches or sabotage may occur, having a key control system in place can limit the access to such high risk, sensitive areas. With this in mind, it allows the security teams to be able to track who’s had what, where and when, and most of all allows the detection of any unusual patterns and suspicious behaviour, allowing interruption to any planned wrongdoing. It adds a layer of security for staff being at a reduced risk of being vulnerable to harm, harassment or espionage, which provides a more comfortable environment for workers. By installing such education across the employees, they are less likely to attempt any unauthorised access or act of sabotage.

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IN THE CONTEXT OF COUNTERTERRORISM, HOW DOES KEY CONTROL AID RESPONSE MEASURES DURING A POTENTIAL THREAT? By enabling secure, rapid access to first responders during critical moments, key control systems are absolutely essential towards counter-terrorism response efforts.

They have rapid access to secure areas, allowing an organised swift evacuation, lockdown or indeed a containment situation, this allows first responders to access without delay and increase their chances of controlling a critical threat. With lockdowns possible, it can prevent suspects entering secure areas, preventing access to critical assets or personnel files. Following such events, due to the ability of audits and reports, post incident investigations can be assisted in a timely manner to help identify initial access to the suspect and indeed to highlight the vulnerabilities within the facility.

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34 COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE | ISSUE 60

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MARTYN’S LAW

MARTYN’S LAW AROUND THE WORLD With the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill just having had its second reading in parliament, Jake Deadman looks at similar legislation/ regulations around the world, to see what level of equivalence, and importance, overseas governments put on protecting crowded spaces from the threat of terrorist attacks and asks whether Martyn’s Law would be a relevant, and beneficial piece of legislation in countries that have experienced terrorist attacks in the last decade Several countries have introduced laws and regulations that are similar in nature to the UK’s forthcoming Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, also known as Martyn’s Law, which aims to improve security measures in crowded spaces and Publicly Accessible Locations (PALs) to mitigate the risk of terrorist attacks. These laws often focus on public safety, counter-terrorism measures, and enhancing preparedness for attacks, particularly in places that attract large crowds.

Starting in January 2015, we highlight global terrorist attacks that have shaped our worldview, and the legislation to mitigate against further attacks.

Here are some key examples of similar legislation or regulations in other countries: FRANCE – VIGIPIRATE PLAN (PLAN VIGIPIRATE) Overview: France’s Vigipirate Plan is a national security measure that combines permanent E ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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UNITED STATES – PROTECTIVE SECURITY MEASURES (DHS/NIPP) Overview: In the U.S., the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), provides guidelines and frameworks to secure public spaces and critical infrastructure, including commercial facilities, public venues, and mass gatherings.

Focus: The DHS issues guidelines for managing security risks at public venues, large-scale events, and places with high foot traffic.

Venue owners are encouraged to adopt risk management strategies, including threat assessments and emergency preparedness.

Relevance: Although there is no single law directly equivalent to Martyn’s Law, the NIPP provides a comprehensive framework that

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 vigilance, prevention, and protection efforts to combat the risk of terrorist attacks.

It mandates increased security measures for public venues, including transportation hubs, cultural sites, and large events.

Focus: The plan applies to public and private organisations, and it requires them to enhance preparedness, strengthen access controls, and train staff in identifying suspicious behaviour.

Relevance: Like Martyn’s Law, Vigipirate emphasises safeguarding publicly accessible locations and encouraging public vigilance against terrorism.

Australia has implemented a national strategy specifically designed to protect crowded places encourages private and public collaboration in enhancing security at Publicly Accessible Locations.

AUSTRALIA – AUSTRALIA’S STRATEGY FOR PROTECTING CROWDED PLACES FROM TERRORISM Overview: Australia has implemented a national strategy specifically designed to protect crowded places, such as shopping centres, stadiums, and tourist sites, from potential terrorist attacks.

This strategy was developed in partnership with law enforcement agencies, industry, and private sector stakeholders.

Focus: The strategy focuses on sharing intelligence, providing protective security advice, and encouraging businesses and local governments to adopt protective security measures, such as installing physical barriers and conducting vulnerability assessments.

Relevance: Like Martyn’s Law, this strategy aims to ensure that owners and operators of crowded places take responsibility for enhancing their security measures to protect the public. E

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Canada’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (CIPA) aims to safeguard key infrastructure and publicly accessible areas protecting critical infrastructure and public spaces from potential terrorist attacks.

 GERMANY – VIDEO SURVEILLANCE IMPROVEMENT ACT

(VIDEOÜBERWACHUNGSVERBESSERUNGSGESETZ)

Overview: Germany’s 2017 Video Surveillance Improvement Act encourages the increased use of video surveillance in public spaces, particularly in areas where terrorist attacks are deemed more likely, such as public transportation hubs, shopping centres, and stadiums.

Focus: While not directly focused on the same areas as Martyn’s Law, it emphasises heightened security in publicly accessible locations, promoting increased use of video surveillance as a preventive measure.

Relevance: Although narrower in scope, the Act shares the objective of increasing security in public places, particularly areas that may be vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

CANADA – CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION ACT (CIPA) Overview: Canada’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (CIPA) aims to safeguard key infrastructure and publicly accessible areas, including event spaces and venues, from terrorism. The act encourages the development of security and resilience strategies for these areas.

Focus: The legislation focuses on conducting threat assessments, sharing intelligence, and enhancing the preparedness of venues that may be targeted by terrorists.

Relevance: Similar to Martyn’s Law, this Act mandates a collaborative approach to

EUROPEAN UNION – DIRECTIVE ON THE PROTECTION OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE Overview: The EU has established several directives concerning the protection of critical infrastructure, which include Directive 2008/114/EC (No longer in force, Date of end of validity: 17/10/2024;) on the identification and designation of European Critical Infrastructure and Directive 2022/2557 on the resilience of critical entities.

Focus: These directives require member states to assess and improve the resilience of publicly accessible locations and infrastructure against various threats, including terrorism. They mandate preparedness and risk management procedures for operators of such venues.

Relevance: Although focused on critical infrastructure, many of these directives also apply to Publicly Accessible Locations (PALs), mandating similar protective measures to those in Martyn’s Law. NEW ZEALAND – NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM HANDBOOK Overview: New Zealand’s National Security System Handbook outlines how the government, in partnership with local authorities and businesses, should approach counter-terrorism efforts and risk management for public venues and events.

Focus: It includes preparedness measures, risk assessments, and emergency response planning for crowded places and high-risk public venues.

Relevance: While not legislated in the same way as Martyn’s Law, New Zealand’s approach involves similar risk mitigation and preparedness strategies aimed at protecting Publicly Accessible Locations.

SINGAPORE Singapore has robust counter-terrorism measures in place, although it does not have a direct equivalent to the UK’s forthcoming E ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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 Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill.

However, Singapore’s counter-terrorism framework includes several key laws and initiatives that aim to protect the public from terrorist threats, particularly in crowded or publicly accessible areas.

INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION ACT (IPA) 2017: Overview: Singapore’s Infrastructure Protection Act (IPA) is the closest equivalent to Martyn’s Law. It mandates protective security measures for critical infrastructure and certain large, publicly accessible buildings. The IPA requires building owners to incorporate security measures into the design of new developments deemed to be at risk of terrorism, something that the current draft version of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill does not.

Focus: The Act applies to a wide range of infrastructures, including transport hubs, government buildings, and large commercial premises. It mandates that developers conduct security-by-design assessments, which are reviewed by government authorities, and implement physical security measures such as barriers, surveillance, and controlled access.

Relevance: Similar to Martyn’s Law, the IPA focuses on preventing attacks in crowded places and ensuring that public areas are better protected against terrorism. It also addresses the need for building resilience to potential attacks.

PUBLIC ORDER ACT (POA) Overview: The Public Order Act (POA) in Singapore gives the authorities the power to regulate and control public assemblies and events, especially those that may be potential

Singapore’s counter-terrorism framework includes several key laws and initiatives that aim to protect the public from terrorist threats targets for terrorist activity. This includes large-scale gatherings and events in public spaces.

Focus: The Act enables the police to impose conditions on event organisers, including requiring them to implement security measures like bag checks, crowd control barriers, and vehicle mitigation solutions.

Relevance: The POA plays a role in protecting public spaces and large events from potential terrorist threats, which aligns with the objectives of Martyn’s Law in safeguarding PALs. COUNTER-TERRORISM MEASURES AND INITIATIVES SGSecure Initiative: This public awareness programme launched by the Singapore government is designed to engage the community in counter-terrorism efforts – much like the UK’s Protect UK site. It encourages businesses, event organisers, and the public to adopt security measures, including the reporting of suspicious behaviour, conducting drills, and preparing response plans for terrorist incidents.

Security Screening and Access Control: Singapore mandates security screening and vehicle checks at sensitive and high-traffic locations, such as shopping malls, transport E ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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MARTYN’S LAW  hubs, and tourist attractions, to prevent potential attacks.

While Singapore’s Infrastructure Protection Act (IPA) is not an exact replica of Martyn’s Law, it shares the goal of protecting PALs from terrorist threats, but it goes further by mandating proactive security measures incorporated into building design. Alongside other initiatives like the Public Order Act and SGSecure, Singapore has a comprehensive counterterrorism framework that reflects a strong commitment to public safety and protection from terrorism, similar to the intent behind the UK’s forthcoming Martyn’s Law. While Martyn’s Law is a unique legislative proposal tailored to the UK context following the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, several other countries have implemented comparable frameworks or laws aimed at protecting public spaces from terrorism. These laws focus on risk assessment, preparedness, and the implementation of security measures in public venues to reduce the risk of mass casualties in the event of a terrorist attack. Each country’s approach reflects its unique security landscape, but the overarching goal of protecting the public from vehicular and other forms of attacks remains consistent across these nations.

Figen Murray, mother of Martyn Hett, after who the law is named, observed: “Terrorism is a global blight, and it is therefore good to see that so many countries worldwide already have various legislative measures in place.

This detailed analysis of security legislation across the nations shows how each country

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could benefit from the introduction of Martyn’s Law or some aspects of it to enhance existing measures. As a global community we need to work together to get the best outcome for all nations to keep their citizens safe.”

The introduction of Martyn’s Law in other countries — such as those previously discussed (France, the United States, Australia, Germany, Canada, Singapore, etc.) — would indeed offer significant benefits, although some already have robust frameworks for counter-terrorism and public safety.

We have carried out a detailed analysis of whether Martyn’s Law would be relevant, necessary, and beneficial in these nations, and whether their existing legislation is sufficient to mitigate terrorist attacks in crowded spaces and provide an education framework for event organisers.

FRANCE – VIGIPIRATE PLAN Relevance of Martyn’s Law: France has been a frequent target of terrorist attacks, particularly in public spaces. The Vigipirate Plan provides a comprehensive approach to preventing such attacks and maintaining vigilance across the country, but Martyn’s Law would enhance this framework by specifically mandating that venue owners and event organisers take direct responsibility for assessing and managing threats. France’s current framework is heavily centralised and led by government directives, whereas Martyn’s Law empowers local authorities and private entities to take more ownership.

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The U.S. has a broad framework for protecting public spaces and critical infrastructure, but this is often voluntary for private entities Existing legislation sufficiency: While the NIPP is comprehensive, its voluntary nature means gaps in compliance exist. Martyn’s Law would close these gaps, making security measures mandatory and providing an educational framework to ensure organisers are wellprepared.

Benefit: Introducing Martyn’s Law would further empower venue managers and event organisers to adopt a more structured, legal obligation toward enhancing preparedness for high-risk areas such as tourist attractions and sports venues. It would also embed ongoing public education and training into law.

Existing legislation sufficiency: While Vigipirate is strong, it could benefit from Martyn’s Law’s focus on decentralising responsibility, providing more targeted, site-specific assessments.

UNITED STATES – NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION PLAN (NIPP) Relevance: The U.S. has a broad framework for protecting public spaces and critical infrastructure, but this is often voluntary for private entities and largely focuses on federal or state-led initiatives. Martyn’s Law would be highly relevant as it would mandate venue operators to assess risks and implement Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) solutions (where necessary) and emergency response planning for Publicly Accessible Locations and crowded places.

Benefit: Introducing Martyn’s Law would provide a more cohesive, national mandate for securing public venues, particularly during large events, and would extend the burden of responsibility beyond federal guidelines to state, and locally owned, operated and organised events. It would offer a standardised framework for assessments and preparedness measures, which could bolster existing practices.

AUSTRALIA – STRATEGY FOR PROTECTING CROWDED PLACES Relevance: Australia’s strategy is already quite aligned with the principles of Martyn’s Law, with strong government emphasis on protecting crowded places from terrorist attacks. However, Martyn’s Law would be relevant in formalising the legal responsibilities of those in charge of publicly accessible locations and ensuring that regular, mandatory training and risk assessments are conducted.

Benefit: Martyn’s Law would provide a more formalised structure for venue owners and event organisers to follow, ensuring that threat and vulnerability assessments become standard practice. Additionally, it would establish a clear legal requirement for public education and proactive safety measures, thereby improving accountability.

Existing legislation sufficiency: Australia has a solid framework, but Martyn’s Law could reinforce it by embedding legal mandates for risk assessment, security training, and public preparedness, rather than relying on voluntary compliance.

European attacks featured again, before the focus moved eastward to the Middle East, then Pakistan.

GERMANY – VIDEO SURVEILLANCE IMPROVEMENT ACT Relevance: Germany has focused on enhancing video surveillance and securing public areas, but Martyn’s Law would broaden the scope by requiring venue operators to actively assess and manage threats, beyond just surveillance.

Martyn’s Law’s focus on public education and regular drills would be a highly relevant addition to Germany’s existing measures. E ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Introducing more proactive, rather than reactive, security strategies would strengthen Germany’s approach to counter-terrorism in public spaces  Benefit: Implementing Martyn’s Law in Germany would provide a more holistic approach to public safety, moving beyond surveillance to more active threat management and resilience-building strategies. It would also mandate that event organisers undergo training and ensure that emergency planning is embedded in public venues.

Existing legislation sufficiency: Germany’s current laws are strong but could benefit from the broader preventative measures Martyn’s Law offers. Introducing more proactive, rather than reactive, security strategies would strengthen Germany’s approach to counterterrorism in public spaces.

Nick Aldworth, Martyn’s Law campaigner commented:

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“The UK has led the way in mobilising the public to fight against terrorism for many years.

The creation of the crowded places model in the early 2000’s was the first systemised attempt to align protective security against threat.

“The world had moved on and the many initiatives that globally reflect what we’ve been doing in the UK for decades can only make it harder for terrorists to operate across, and within, borders.

“I’m delighted that Martyn’s Law is making progress through Parliament; it still has a long way to go, and we all need to stay focused on the core message of public protection. “ CANADA – CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION ACT (CIPA) Relevance: Canada’s CIPA is focused on critical infrastructure but does not explicitly mandate risk assessments or security measures for all publicly accessible locations. Martyn’s Law would be highly relevant here, particularly in ensuring that crowded spaces and venues for public events are safeguarded.

Benefit: Martyn’s Law would formalise a public safety responsibility framework for venue owners and event organisers, requiring public safety training in high-risk locations. It would

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Martyn’s Law would bring added value in most of the countries discussed by standardising public safety responsibilities ensure consistency across the country in how public spaces are secured.

Existing legislation sufficiency: While CIPA covers critical infrastructure, it does not mandate the same level of public venue protection that Martyn’s Law would provide.

Hence, the addition of Martyn’s Law would fill this gap, especially for event organisers and venue managers.

SINGAPORE – INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION ACT (IPA) Relevance: Singapore’s Infrastructure Protection Act (IPA) already mandates securityby-design for critical infrastructure and crowded places, so Martyn’s Law is less immediately necessary here. However, Martyn’s Law could still bring added value by ensuring regular, comprehensive training for event organisers and venue managers and embedding legal requirements for public education.

Benefit: While Singapore’s IPA is robust, Martyn’s Law would offer more structured guidance for non-infrastructure-based events, such as public gatherings in parks, festivals, and other open-air venues. Martyn’s Law’s focus on public safety awareness, and education would complement the existing measures.

Existing legislation sufficiency: Singapore’s legislation is generally sufficient, but Martyn’s Law could enhance public engagement and education efforts and formalise a broader risk management framework for temporary public events.

CONCLUSION Martyn’s Law would bring added value in most of the countries discussed by standardising public safety responsibilities, ensuring that risk assessments, public training, and preventive security measures become a legal mandate rather than an optional practice. In places like the United States, France, and Germany, Martyn’s Law could strengthen existing frameworks by ensuring that local authorities, venue owners, and event organisers take more ownership of public safety.

For countries like Australia and Singapore, where existing measures are already robust, Martyn’s Law could still be relevant by introducing a stronger legal framework for public education, training, and event-specific risk assessment.

In summary, while most of these nations have solid foundations in place, Martyn’s Law would provide a uniform, structured approach to improving security in crowded spaces, embedding proactive counter-terrorism strategies and public preparedness into the legal framework. M About the Author: Jake Deadman is the content director for CTX – Counter Terror Expo (18-19 June 2025 at ExCeL London) and also runs his own content & communications consultancy, JD Consultancy, which specialises in corporate communications for the counter terrorism, perimeter security and hostile vehicle mitigation sectors. Prior to that, he was the Publisher of Counter Terror Business magazine. jake@jdconsultancy.uk ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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EVENT SECURITY

Accessibility in action

Image ©INIBSP

ENSURING SAFE CITIES, STADIUMS, AND PUBLIC VIEWING EVENTS AT MEGA-EVENTS A summer filled with sports in 2024 has now come to an end. The Olympics and the European Football Championship packed stadiums and drew hundreds of thousands of fans into city centres and to large public viewing areas. In this review, Christian Schneider explores where spectators were particularly well-protected and how we might further enhance the resilience of public spaces using proven security strategies SECURITY RISKS AT LARGE EVENTS When over 300,000 people gather nearly every day in packed flocks, grouped by their nationality at pre-defined locations to celebrate, it unfortunately may become more than just a cheerful party; it also represents a luring opportunity for extremists to attack those soft

targets. Terror organisations worldwide eagerly welcome such occasions, as highlighted in the call “To the stadiums”, by the Islamic State, in April 2024. Here, attackers can, with minimal effort and low detection risk, ram vehicles into dense crowds in single or multiple waves in a manner reminiscent of E ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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significant injury or even fatalities, attracting widespread media attention (benefit). In contrast, effective protection measures are hindered by the prevention paradox, which works to extremists’ advantage. Since, “There is no glory in prevention” (Rose, G. 1985), effective protective measures, require considerable application expertise (resources), well-designed organisational systems (resources), and effective vehicle security barriers (resources).

Reliable countermeasures are neither trivial to plan nor to implement (resources). Moreover, with tight prevention budgets and widespread disaster fatigue, the often-unseen benefit of reliable protection efforts must be argued for through time-intensive justification procedures (cost, proficiency, resources).

Image ©INIBSP

EVENT SECURITY

Mood at the Stuttgart Euros stadium

Such attacks require neither complex planning nor highlevel expertise  attacks that already proved fatal and famous in Nice, France and Berlin Christmas market, Germany.

Crowded city centres and public viewing sites are particularly attractive targets, and the crowds at publicly accessible locations and surrounding stadiums are especially at risk.

THE THREAT OF VEHICLE RAM ATTACKS The disproportionate rise in vehicular attacks in recent years (RAND, 2022) is both trivial and pragmatic: Large Goods Vehicles are the most efficient terror weapon (Al Qaida 2011, Islamic State 2016). Not only on the continent, vehicles are advantageous over the use of other deadly weapons in terror attacks, employing a known guerrilla warfare tactic (Gaynor, B. 2002) called the prevention paradox. The guiding principle for such terrorist actions is simple: an asymmetrical risk-resource-benefit ratio that favours the attackers.

In essence, using vehicles as weapons is cheap (resources), simple (detection risk), and effective (benefit). Such attacks require neither complex planning (resources, risk) nor high-level expertise (resources) to inflict

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POSITIVE TRENDS IN HOSTILE VEHICLE MITIGATION Fortunately, the good news is that most cities, stadiums, and public viewing events surveyed on the continent have shown notable improvements in terms of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) in recent years! This could be attributed to tireless and foresighted awareness campaigns published by the NPSA, NaCTSO, UNOCT and the media following the more than 140 hostile vehicle attacks around the world since 2014 (NPSA, 2024), which are now bearing fruit, albeit with room for improvement.

Image ©INIBSP

THE MAIN CHALLENGE: PROFESSIONAL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF MEASURES Why, it must be asked, is HVM still considered in many places as a form of event technology? Is it possibly to avoid informing mostly public clients of the applicable civil engineering and built environment regulations? Why are increasing numbers of unqualified “experts” entering the market, aiming to make quick money with glossy brochures and bold promises despite lacking peer reviewed expertise in construction, physics, HVM, and engineering?

This dangerous mix poses significant risks and liability also for these clients, especially if courts may soon have to address issues of

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Fortunately, the once-popular yet highly hazardous concrete blocks are increasingly being replaced by properly certified (ISO223431, ISO IWA 14-1, PAS68) Vehicle Security Barriers (VSB) barriers. Yet, eight years after the Nice and Berlin attacks, still, more often than not proven application expertise (ISO22343-) carried out by suitably qualified and experienced persons, e.g. certified HVM-Specialist Security Advisors (RSES), keeps on to be the exception. Even worse, a rising number of new businesses are making money by lulling event organisers and spectators into a false and, in some cases, fatal promise of security.

deficiencies or, in the worst case, fatalities. HVM may not be rocket science, but still it is far from a trivial undertaking. Internationally, it is well recognised that HVM is not a product range but a subfield within civil engineering and counter terrorism (CPNI 2013, UNOCT 2022, NPSA, RIBA & CPI 2023). In short, protecting against global terrorist groups requires relevant experience in engineering and specialised civil construction, coupled with in-depth knowledge of HVM and global networks.

This holds true especially with the noticeable shortcomings of portable vehicle security barriers applied in Europe this summer.

These portable VSBs were often deployed so unprofessionally wrong that, in the event of a serious attack, they could not have the slightest chance to fulfil their protective function.

Especially portable VSBs must not only be properly certified but, further importantly, suited to their intended containment capacity, the surface they are placed on and their mode of function. Both the installers of these barriers E

Why, it must be asked, is HVM still considered in many places as a form of event technology?

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Those planning and implementing HVM must have solid technical training in the field of HVM  and the often-unqualified planners better ought to critically assess their own engineering background in physics, mechanical engineering, and technical standards, before continuing to promote uninformed decisions and installations of VSBs. QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE ARE ESSENTIAL Quality stems from qualification! What is a given in other areas of daily life has yet to fully establish itself in HVM (or would you go to seek medical advice from a pharmaceutical manufacturers sales outlet rather than from qualified doctors and pharmacists?).

There is no way around it: those planning and implementing HVM must have solid technical training in the field of HVM, a strong foundation in construction and mechanical engineering, and stay up-to-date with international standards (CPD). The globally recognised gold standard not only for peer reviewed HVM specialists is the relevant list of experts administered by the Register of Security Engineers and Specialists (RSES). Clients

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seeking HVM are strongly advised to accept no less in the interest of security.

Best practices in professional security architecture can be found worldwide in projects where impartial planners from construction engineering work alongside certified RSES specialists to plan, specify, tender, and implement protection measures according to the relevant standards and guidelines.

GERMAN BEST PRACTICE: STUTTGART “NECKAR STADIUM” The HVM measures applied for Stuttgart’s Euros Stadium deserve special mention. Stuttgart’s HVM measures protected the stadium at the highest level, doing so both economically and innovatively.

The most state-of-the-art HVM barriers at Stuttgart’s Neckar Stadium provide high level certified resilience. Even unbraked 30-tonne lorries ramming into the VSBs at a speed of 80 km/h (50mph) would barely damage these barriers. The project and planning team achieved this impressive level of protection cleverly by not only deploying the latest generation of barriers but even more importantly, by following the international HVM norm (ISO 22343-2) and the relevant guidelines published by the NPSA, ensuring compatibility with sustainability, discreet aesthetics, and accessibility for public transport, cyclists, and pedestrians, while also considering Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and vandalism resistance considerations.

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The most state-of-the-art HVM barriers at Stuttgart’s Neckar Stadium provide high level certified resilience future challenges and HVM in such a way that we create broad and most economic synergies previously barely considered. L

Image ©INIBSP

Thus, high-performance VSBs that allow greenery, tamper-proof control cabinets, and affordable sliding beams are contemporary features at the Neckar Stadium. The interdisciplinary project team designed the protective zone around the stadium with foresight, ensuring that visitors will continue to be also optimally protected at future Bundesliga football matches to come and future mega-events within the well-protected apron surrounding the stadium.

CONCLUSION WITH CONFIDENCE The 2024 Euros was not only a major sporting event but also a stress test for security architectures. While some weaknesses became apparent, there were also highly commendable strengths. When it comes to protecting soft targets from vehicular attacks, it became clear that HVM is a demanding, physical-technical discipline of construction and should therefore ideally be handled by experienced specialist security advisors and civil engineers following established construction plan of work. The example of Stuttgart’s Neckar Stadium and many others demonstrate this.

Whether for temporary or permanent HVM measures, quality and security do not emerge from colourful brochures but from the fundamental principles, regulations, and processes inherent in the construction industry.

With the right preparation and interdisciplinary, impartial project teams, we can integrate urban

About the author: Christian Schneider is an Ordinary Member of RSES, member of the ISO 22343 HVM standards committee, and HVM expert at the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).

He is an author, lecturer and experienced practitioner with a strong background in engineering and mitigation of dynamic loads.

Schneider founded the INIBSP “Initiative Breitscheidplatz” specialist consultancy office in 2017 after the terrible Vehicle Ram Attacks of Nice and Berlin, as a non-profit expert forum aiming to quickly provide relevant HVM know-how to decision makers in Germany.

Since then, his firm has developed into the leading consultancy on the topic in Germanspeaking countries. He developed and implemented numerous HVM schemes for the protection of entire city centres, airports, critical infrastructures, stadiums and public spaces, in close cooperation with international experts and local authorities. His commitment and devotion to protecting people form hostile vehicles earned him the honourable nickname “Poller-Pabst” (Bollard Pope) in Germany.

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ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY: NAVIGATING ZONE-EX IN LIGHT OF MARTYN’S LAW As event venues adapt to evolving security needs, Martyn’s Law presents an important opportunity for safeguarding public spaces.

As venue owners and event organisers strive to prepare for these new measures, many are seeking further clarity on their specific responsibilities within the complex Zone-Ex area, says the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association A recent LinkedIn Poll that we conducted asked the question: “When putting on a public event, who should be responsible for assessing the risk of a terrorist attack and implementing security measures?”

Option A: The Venue/Landowner?

Option B: The Event Owner/Organiser?

The results came back with 73 per cent of respondents saying the responsibility should be with the Event Owner/Organiser, and 27 per cent saying the Venue/Landowner, this poll has clearly divided opinion – and exposed a disturbing lack of clarity about where the responsibilities for ‘Zone-Ex’ lay.

ZONE-EX AND ITS CONSIDERATIONS The concept of Zone-Ex, or the ‘grey space’, surrounding an event venue has increasingly become an important focus in discussions of public safety and counter-terrorism. This extended area, often reaching beyond the venue’s perimeter into nearby streets, car parks, and public spaces, presents a security challenge that, while difficult to manage, is essential for ensuring the safety of attendees.

The introduction of Martyn’s Law, also known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, will provide an opportunity to enhance security measures in these areas. As owners and operators consider new guidelines, there is a need for further clarity on how to best secure

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this complex space and who is responsible for comprehensive and effective mitigation strategies.

ZONE-EX: A COMPLEX AND OVERLOOKED RISK Zone-Ex is, by its very nature, a transitional space. Whether outside a football stadium, concert hall, or major public event, it is the area where people congregate, queue, and move between public transport or car parks and the event itself. Unlike the highly regulated and secure environments inside the venue, this ‘grey space’ often falls outside the jurisdiction of the venue owner, creating a patchwork of security responsibilities.

For terrorists, this area presents a soft target.

It is often less monitored, with fewer visible security measures than within the venue, and offers a high concentration of people. In recent years, high-profile terrorist attacks, both at home and abroad, such as the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing – where the terrorist had easy access to the public foyer of the arena – and the Berlin Breitscheidplatz Christmas market attack in December 2016, where a stolen HGV was driven into unprotected shoppers and market stalls in a Publicly Accessible Location.

As Martyn’s Law moves through Parliament, the government will need to address the gap in responsibility and ensure that venues and

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Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz Christmas market

Image: ©Arild Vågen

public authorities can work in unison to secure these vulnerable spaces.

Martyn’s Law, named in memory of Martyn Hett, a victim of the Manchester Arena attack, seeks to address this by imposing a legal duty on venue operators to mitigate the risk of terrorism. While the legislation will be a muchneeded step forward in enhancing security, it still leaves significant gaps regarding how the grey space is to be managed, especially when it comes to shared or public areas outside the direct control of venue operators. Clarifying responsibilities in these zones will be essential to fully realising the protective potential of Martyns’s Law. For example, Section 5, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) draft Bill states that: (1) For the purposes of this Act— (a) the person responsible for qualifying public premises is the person who has control of the premises in connection with their relevant Schedule 1 use; (b) the person responsible for a qualifying public event is the person who has control of the premises at which the event is to be held in connection with their use for the event.

(2) If more than one person is responsible for qualifying public premises or a qualifying public event — (a) references in this Act to the person responsible for the premises or the event (as the case may be) are to each such person, and (b) two or more such persons may act jointly in pursuance of a requirement imposed on them by or under this Act. This gives no direct instruction, or allocation of responsibility, to the space between the premises – Zone-Ex/Grey Space – or the Publicly Accessible Locations (PALs) en route to the venue, such as public footpaths, or areas where event-goers would be queuing, or milling around.

In 2022 (before the latest version of the draft Bill was published), the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) published a document entitled ‘Events National Guidance 2022’, authored by DAC Laurence Taylor, NPCC Events Lead, which further muddies the waters by stating: “Legal opinion suggests that the responsibility for public safety rests with the organisers of an event, the owners of the land on which it takes place and the local authority if the event takes place on a road. However, other persons or agencies who undertake actions regarding E

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 public safety at an event may assume a duty of care and, therefore, also become responsible.”

MARTYN’S LAW AND ITS REACH: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ZONE-EX? The central tenet of Martyn’s Law is to mandate that venues have a strategy in place to assess and manage the risk of a terrorist attack. This includes training staff, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring effective communication during emergencies. However, what is less clear is the extent to which this duty extends beyond the immediate surrounding area of the venue.

For instance, a football stadium may have security protocols in place for entry gates and the stands, but who is responsible for ensuring the safety of fans milling about in the streets outside? In this liminal space between public and private ownership, security responsibility often becomes fragmented. Local authorities, private contractors, and the venue itself may all have a role to play, yet the lines of accountability are blurred.

The Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA), in its article of June 2024 ‘Mitigation of threats during ingress and egress’ , deferred to the NPSA document ‘Mitigation of Terrorist Threats at Venues During Ingress and Egress Guidance document’ by stating: “In the case of both ingress and egress from a venue, the problem

Clarifying responsibilities in these zones will be essential to fully realising the protective potential of Martyns’s Law

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centres around the congregation of people who are vulnerable to attack in areas where there are limited safety and security measures in place.

“This is particularly relevant in areas that may be outside the direct control of the venue.

Keeping people safe during the ingress and egress phase of a venue’s operation is a security challenge. Add to that the complications of long queues, checking tickets, bag searches, etc, and the need to identify the vulnerabilities and control or manage the risks becomes clear.

Being prepared is key to combating any threat.

Hostile actors may identify the entry and exit points at a venue as ‘soft targets’ if security is poorly developed.”

In fact, the NPSA refers event organisers to several sources, without issuing definitive guidance on Zone-Ex/Grey Space: “This issue is not covered in this guidance, but further information can be found on the ProtectUK website and within the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) Green Guide and Supplementary Guidance ‘Event Safety Management’. Also, the Purple Guide is a comprehensive document outlining safe standards for the running of outdoor events.

Lastly, for small to medium size venues, there is a good practice guide called ‘Safer Crowds Safer Venues’ that focuses on crowd management in UK performance and licences spaces.”

This lack of clarity is particularly problematic for venue owners and event organisers, who will be legally required to consider terrorism risks but may not have the authority or resources to secure adjacent public areas. The grey space thus remains a significant blind spot, one that terrorists could continue to exploit unless a more coordinated and clearly defined approach to security is adopted.

THE CHALLENGE OF COORDINATING SECURITY EFFORTS One of the key challenges that will be posed

by Martyn’s Law (as the draft bill currently stands) is how to coordinate security measures across multiple stakeholders in Zone-Ex. In many cases, this area involves a mix of private property, public streets, and transport hubs, all of which fall under different jurisdictions.

While venue owners will be expected to have comprehensive anti-terrorism plans, they cannot unilaterally control these areas without the cooperation of local authorities, transport operators, and law enforcement agencies.

For example, securing the perimeter of a stadium involves not only monitoring entry points but also managing the flow of people through surrounding public spaces. In practical terms, this could involve a range of measures from increasing the presence of security personnel and CCTV surveillance to deploying Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) barriers that prevent vehicle-borne attacks. However, implementing such measures often requires the approval and coordination of multiple agencies, each with their own priorities and constraints.

Without clear guidance on how to manage this process, venue operators may face challenges in meeting their legal obligations to mitigate risks, while lacking full control over external spaces. Addressing this disconnect between responsibility and authority will be key to ensuring Martyn’s Law achieves its full potential in enhancing public safety.

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Safety Flex Twickenham

A football stadium may have security protocols in place for entry gates and the stands, but who is responsible for ensuring the safety of fans milling about in the streets outside THE FINANCIAL AND LOGISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR EVENT ORGANISERS One important consideration for smaller event organisers is the potential financial and logistical impact of implementing Martyn’s Law. Upgrading security infrastructure, training staff, and conducting regular risk assessments may present challenges, for smaller venues or one-off events. However, it is crucial that the measures for these venues remain proportionate to their size and risk level. By seeking the right advice, smaller venues can better understand their vulnerabilities and implement appropriate training and mitigation strategies that are not cost-prohibitive. While larger stadiums and arenas may have the resources to invest in robust security systems, ensuring that smaller venues can access support and guidance will help them comply with Martyn’s Law in a way that balances security with practicality, without imposing excessive financial burdens. E ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Crowdguard Surface Guard Edinburgh

 Moreover, the grey space around venues often requires additional measures, such as hiring more security personnel to patrol adjacent streets, installing additional CCTV, or even installing permanent or temporary HVM barriers. These costs, coupled with the logistical complexity of managing public spaces, highlight the need for a balanced approach that ensures all venues, regardless of size can effectively comply with Martyn’s Law, without facing disproportionate challenges.

A PATH FORWARD: CLARIFYING THE LAW AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS For Martyn’s Law to be truly effective, a clearer framework is needed to address the security challenges posed by the grey space around event venues. One potential solution lies in fostering stronger partnerships, and lines of communication between venue operators, local authorities, and law enforcement. By creating a more integrated approach to security, stakeholders can ensure that Zone-Ex is properly monitored and protected, reducing the likelihood of terrorist attacks in these vulnerable areas.

Furthermore, the government must provide more detailed guidance on how Martyn’s Law will apply to areas outside the immediate control of venue operators. This could involve extending the legislation to cover public spaces around venues or creating incentives for local authorities to invest in additional security measures. By clearly delineating responsibilities and providing the necessary resources, the law can help ensure that all parties are equipped to address the risks posed by the grey space.

In addition, there is a need for greater public awareness about the role that Zone-Ex plays in event security. Just as venue operators are

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There is a need for greater public awareness about the role that Zone-Ex plays in event security now required to take steps to protect against terrorism, the public must also be educated about the risks and how to respond in an emergency. This could include more visible security measures, such as public information campaigns or increased police presence in highrisk areas (such as used for Project Servator exercises), to reassure event-goers and deter potential attackers.

THE ONGOING CHALLENGES OF ZONE-EX SECURITY Martyn’s Law will represent a significant step forward in the fight against terrorism, and it also presents an opportunity to enhance security in the grey space surrounding venues. While the current ambiguity regarding Zone-Ex poses challenges for event organisers and venue owners, it also opens the door for collaboration among stakeholders. By working together to establish clearer guidelines, we can implement effective security measures that protect public spaces.

As the threat of terrorism continues to evolve, so too must our approach to securing the spaces where people gather. Zone-Ex, though often overlooked, is a critical component of comprehensive security strategies. By addressing its unique challenges with proactive policies and strengthened partnerships, we can enhance public safety and create safer environments for all attendees. L

PUBLIC SAFETY

WHY KEEPING ESCAPE ROUTES CLEAR MATTERS We take a look at the different ways you can keep emergency exits clear, as well as the importance of drills Having well maintained and clear exits in all kinds of venues is essential to the safety of everyone inside, whether it’s to allow for a safe and quick exit during fire drill or an emergency evacuation during a terror attack.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said that premises that are simple, consisting of a single storey, will require fairly simple measures to protect the escape routes compared to a large multi-storey building, which would require a more complex and inter-related system of fire precautions.

Escape routes in a building should be designed so that people can escape quickly enough to ensure they are not placed in any danger.

The time available to escape a situation will depend on a number of factors, including how quickly an alarm is raised, the number of escape routes available, and the nature of the occupants.

RUN, HIDE, TELL In the case of a possible terrorist attack on a venue, Counter Terror Policing advises people to follow three key steps to keep safe.

This was created in 2017 with help from firsthand testimony and case studies from people who have survived weapons or terrorist attacks.

The simple three-word advice is pretty selfexplanatory. Start by running to a place E

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 of safety. This is a far better option than to surrender or negotiate. If there’s nowhere to go then it is better to hide than confront the attacker.

Counter Terror Policing also advises people to turn their phones to silent, as well as (if possible) barricading themselves in. Next, they should call the police on 999.

DRILLS While this advice is helpful due to its simplicity, it can also be useful to regularly conduct fire drills to make sure everyone knows what to do in an emergency.

Drills give the users of a premises experience following fire exit routes and procedures, from following signs to finding staircases.

For building owners, a fire drill can also help identify measures needed to correct any risks found during the drill.

The responsible person of a building has a legal duty to ‘provide procedures for serious and imminent danger’, as set out in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

These procedures must be supported by providing appropriate training and instruction, which includes fire drills.

While the fire drill is taking place, follow a checklist to ensure everything is in proper

Keeping emergency exits clear of any possible barriers or hazards is also very important working order, including fire alarm systems and emergency lighting. All escape routes should be clear, with fire escapes opening easily, fire safety doors closing correctly and all fire exit signs displayed in the correct places.

Legally, these drills must be carried out at least once a year.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DEICING AND GRITTING Keeping emergency exits clear of any possible barriers or hazards is also very important. People will not necessarily behave the way they are told to in a drill, as they are more likely to panic.

Therefore, it is important to ensure the exits are easy to see and safe to use.

Ice near or outside emergency exits can be especially hazardous as there is a higher likelihood of slipping. You can do this by using preventative measures in colder weather such as deicing or gritting surfaces on or near the exits.

This means the emergency services will have better access to possible casualties. L ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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INDUSTRY INSIGHT: DE-ICING FOR PEOPLE’S SAFETY When the weather gets colder, it’s important to consider the safety risks that people could face, as Gareth Ellis from EcoGrit explains WHY IS DE-ICING IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE’S SAFETY? Firstly, it is very important that whoever is responsible for de-icing, they are using a product that is fit for the purpose and conditions in which they are catering for.

It is unlikely to even cross the minds of your workers, customers or the general public while they are on your grounds, to take extra care as it’s your legal responsibility to make sure you have tried your best to make it safe. And with various products available on the market to adequately do the job with the kind of weather we have in the UK, there shouldn’t be any excuses. Going for the cheapest upfront cost isn’t an excuse.

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Unfortunately, many people are now occupied while walking, whether it be from talking on the phone or looking down at their screens. It is important for people’s safety that this is done right, otherwise there is a greater risk that an accident can happen from a slip. If the injury sustained is just a bump or an embarrassing situation then people can get on with their day, but if it results in a more serious injury, companies can find that they could be down a key employee which could cause a loss in production or functionality of their business.

There could also be a financial cost from having to employ a temporary stand in, but it also increases the risk of being taken

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to court especially if it was a visitor or a member of the public that was injured.

WHEN COLD WEATHER IS FORECAST, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT SURFACES FROM BECOMING DANGEROUS AND WHAT AREAS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED? The best way to prevent surfaces from becoming icy is to grit the night before but with a product that is long lasting, especially if the sub-zero temperatures are present in the daytime as well as the night. The product used needs to be able to handle the temperatures forecast, considering that ground temperatures are about two degrees lower than air temperature. If the product used isn’t adequate, then the ground will just become icy again in the morning (EcoGrit can withstand temperatures as low as -20 centigrade).

The areas that need to be considered are anywhere inside your boundaries where people are likely to drive or walk. This includes carparks and walkways leading to the front entrance. Also, around the area where bicycles are kept mustn’t be neglected, although it might be difficult if your contractor just drives around doing the main body of the carpark. This may then be the responsibility of a caretaker or other designated member of staff. If a business has a high number of employees or members of the public to enter on foot, then it is a good idea to make sure just outside your entrance as well as their route is also free of ice.

An especially important point to remember are the areas where people don’t usually go but would be needed in an emergency.

Depending on your company’s evacuation policy it is important to remember to deice outside fire exits and the path leading to wherever is the designated place to assemble.

When people are moving in a panic quickly, the last thing on their minds would be if the company had de-iced the emergency exit.

WHAT PROBLEMS COULD OCCUR IF ONE RELIES ON ROCK SALT FOR DEICING? Long term usage of rock salt creates a lot of damage to the surfaces it encounters, whether that is the ground or the bottom of posts. It is also very corrosive to the underside of vehicles whether they are staff cars or company vehicles and because it is a grit, it can stick to the bottom of people’s footwear and be

GARETH ELLIS, FOUNDER, ECOGRIT Gareth has spent a number of years in the road repair industry accessing roads both here and abroad. He has been collaborating with others to find solutions to permanently fix and reduce damage to our roads and infrastructure caused by our winter practices.

carried into the buildings where it can damage the floors. (Although EcoGrit has grit in the name, it is a granular material that completely dissolves and doesn’t stick to your footwear).

Rock salt has a freezing point of about -6C and a low moisture absorption factor which means if the air temperature is -5C or below then rock salt will just freeze rendering it useless. If this happens then the ground becomes slippery and dangerous. Also, rock salt doesn’t have the ability to absorb much moisture meaning it needs to be constantly reapplied which is labour intensive. Rock salt used in de-icing isn’t cleaned and processed (that is why it is cheap), so still contains traces of heavy metals and toxins which end up back in the water table and unfortunately for us, we rely on that water for growing the crops we consume.

So, in conclusion, choosing what looks like the cheap up-front option usually turns into the most expensive and troublesome long term. M FURTHER INFORMATION

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THE ALL CAPITALS SECURITY IN EVENT TAB

THE SECURITY EVENT 2025: PUSHING BOUNDARIES AT THE NEC The Security Event (TSE), now widely recognised as Europe’s leading commercial, enterprise, and domestic security exhibition, is scheduled to return to the home of security, the NEC Birmingham from 8 -10 April, 2025.

The forthcoming edition guarantees an enhanced showcase of exclusive products launches and innovations, highlighting cuttingedge security solutions from leading industry brands.

Established with leading global security brands such as Assa Abloy, ComelitPAC, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Motorola

Solutions, TDSi, Texecom, and Videcon, TSE 2025 is set to feature an impressive lineup of over 450 exhibitors across 20,000+ sqm. This represents a significant 28 per cent growth in exhibitors compared to the 2024 edition and will showcase more than 10,000 security innovations. TSE 2025 is expected to attract over 16,500 security professionals, including E

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THE SECURITY EVENT  distributors, installers, integrators, consultants, and end-users from the UK & Europe.

By maintaining regular engagement with the security community and incorporating

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continuous feedback, TSE strives to establish itself as a world-class exhibition dedicated to supporting European security professionals.

The event will provide exceptional business opportunities, immersive live product demonstrations, access to the latest security technologies and services from leading global manufacturers and suppliers Coming back for 2025, the Live Testing Lab, in collaboration with the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), returns with an expanded demonstration area and an even greater selection of products undergoing rigorous testing. Live demonstrations will be hosted across three days, offering valuable insights into the real-world performance of security solutions. Ascertain knowledge to make informed decisions in your organisation and choose high-standard security solutions effective in safeguarding against potential threats.

Professional Security Officer Live, focuses on the vital role of front-line security professionals.

This conference will address security guarding needs across various sectors, accompanied by live demonstrations and discussions on the latest technologies and innovations.

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The Security Leaders’ Summit sponsored by Verkada, will feature leading expert speakers who will uncover emerging technologies, latest trends and best practice case studies for security professionals.

The Designing Out Crime Zone, in association with Secured by Design, will showcase innovative policing techniques and solutions to enhance security in public spaces. This specialised zone offers a unique opportunity to explore crime prevention methods and address the growing risk of cyber threats in public spaces.

The XForum, hosted by Lee Odess, CEO of The Access Control Executive Brief is designed to showcase the latest advancements, evolving challenges, and cutting-edge technologies in access control. Bigger and more impressive than ever, this is your ultimate destination for discovering the latest advancements in access control, complemented by an interactive and engaging XForum theatre hosted by industry leaders, where you’re part of the conversation.

TSE also offers a chance to earn CPD points through its accredited 80 hours of content, featuring case studies, workshops, and seminar sessions. Attendees can claim accredited CPD points with The Security Institute, making

it a valuable opportunity for professional development.

The event facilitates networking through CONNECT+ Live, a hosted meeting program matching visitors with exhibitors based on their needs. Additionally, attendees can engage in networking opportunities during reception drinks on all three days of the show.

The Security Event is part of The Safety & Security Series, co-located with five other industry-leading events: Professional Security Officer Live, The Fire Safety Event, The Health & Safety Event, The Workplace Event, and National Cyber Security Show. With one registration, attendees can cover the entire safety and security spectrum, making it the largest event of its kind in the UK & Europe, encompassing over 55,000 sqm of floor space and 1150+ exhibitors.

Free parking for all visitors adds convenience to the event, ensuring a safe and cost-effective travel experience across the three days. M FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information and free pass registration, interested individuals can visit www.thesecurityevent.co.uk

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VAWG

COMBATTING VAWG Violence against women and girls has received more attention over the last year, with police forces and governments highlighting the issue and pledging to do more. Earlier this year, police warned of an epidemic of violence against women and girls and the new government has pledged to halve it in a decade According to End Violence Against Women and Girls, “Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is any form of violence disproportionately perpetrated by men against women and girls.

It is deeply linked to women’s inequality and includes sexual violence, domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and so-called ‘honour-based’ abuse, exploitation and abuse of women and girls in online spaces.”

Back in July, police warned of an epidemic of violence against women and girls.

A national policing statement, which brought together comprehensive data and analysis has revealed 3,000 offences are recorded every day.

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Police recorded VAWG-related crime increased by 37 per cent between 2018 and 23. Over one million VAWG-related crimes were recorded during 2022/23, accounting for 20 per cent of all police recorded crime.

One in every six murders related to domestic abuse in 22/23, with suspected victim suicides following domestic abuse rising year-on-year.

Police leaders called for a whole-system approach that brings together criminal justice partners, government bodies and industry, in a new partnership that seeks to reduce the scale and impact of VAWG. It is believed around 1 in 20 people are perpetrators of VAWG each year and evidence

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A refreshed national framework has brought the police response to VAWG in line with counter-terrorism and serious and organised crime

shows many of these perpetrators will have touch points with a number of agencies outside of policing through their life, presenting opportunities for intervention.

POLICING VAWG Policing has now ensured that VAWG is officially classed as a national threat and a refreshed national framework has brought the police response to VAWG in line with counter-terrorism and serious and organised crime.

Policing has also now adopted the 4P approach from counter-terrorism policing for tackling VAWG. The 4Ps include: Prepare (forces must have the right culture, skills and resources); Protect (action is being taken to protect individuals, families and communities); Pursue (perpetrators of violence are being relentlessly pursued); and Prevent (policing must work with partners as part of a wholesystem approach).

Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth, deputy CEO of the College of Policing and NPCC lead for violence against women and girls, said: “We are absolutely determined to turn the tide on violence and abuse faced by women and girls and will continue to work tirelessly to do better for victims.

“Our focus will always be to bring the men behind these pervasive crimes to justice. By enhancing the way we use data and intelligence, we will improve our ability to identify, intercept and arrest those causing the most harm in communities.”

The analysis has identified five critical threats to women and girls: rape and serious sexual offences; domestic abuse; stalking and harassment; child sexual abuse and exploitation; and online and tech-enabled VAWG. E

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VAWG

The new Labour government made a commitment in their manifesto to half VAWG in a decade  A new dedicated policing hub, the National Centre for Public Protection in the College of Policing, will support forces with specialist knowledge and training for investigators and officers, and lead on a national approach to preventative work with other agencies.

Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth continued: “Violence against women and girls is a national emergency. We need the support and direction of government to intervene and address the current problems within the criminal justice system and lead the way on a whole-system approach to VAWG. “We aspire to a position where an effective criminal justice response to VAWG is the last resort. We need to move forward as a society to make change and no longer accept VAWG as inevitable.”

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Sophie Francis-Cansfield, head of external affairs at Women’s Aid, said: “While the findings of the National Polices Chiefs’ Council and College into the scale of violence against women and girls in this country are alarming, it is important to remember that many survivors will not report their experiences to the police, therefore we know the issue will be much larger than the data shows.

The new Labour government made a commitment in their manifesto to half VAWG in a decade.

While high-profile cases such as the murders of Sarah Everard, Zara Aleena and the Hunt family make the headlines, there are thousands of other events every week that do not make the news.

According to Rape Crisis England and Wales, 1 in 4 women have been raped or sexually assaulted since the age of 16. On average 1 in 30 women are raped or sexually assaulted every year. Police recorded 69,184 rapes between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. And as of 30 June 2024, charges had been brought in only 2.7 per cent of these cases. 5 in 6 women who are raped don’t report it, which means the scale of

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There have been protests in Northern Ireland, which was recently revealed to have the 3rd highest femicide rate in western Europe. offending is much higher than the stats suggest and there’s a huge number of offenders who never face any consequences.

Statistics indicate that one in three adults who experience rape are assaulted in their own home. This highlights that enhancing security measures in public spaces alone is insufficient to address the issue. A broader cultural and societal shift is necessary to change the conditions that enable such incidents.

There have been protests in Northern Ireland, which was recently revealed to have the 3rd highest femicide rate in western Europe. At the time of writing, there have been 41 confirmed femicides in Northern Ireland since 2017, with 24 women killed since 2020. Over the Autumn, four women were killed over a six-week period.

Thousands of people attended a rally in Derry/ Londonderry to oppose VAWG after two women were threatened with knives in the city over the space of a week.

RAPE CULTURE Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a multifaceted issue that does not exist in isolation. It encompasses a broad spectrum of behaviours, ranging from overt acts such

as sexual assault and homicide to more subtle actions that contribute to a broader culture often referred to as “rape culture.”

Rape culture describes a societal environment where sexual violence and abuse are normalised, minimised, or dismissed.

Examples can include jokes about rape shared in private conversations, victim-blaming comments such as questioning a person’s clothing choices, or threats on social media platforms.

This concept is often illustrated by the “pyramid of sexual violence,” which suggests that casual sexism and misogynistic attitudes can create a foundation that supports increasingly severe forms of violence. For instance, workplace stereotypes and offensive E

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VAWG

Casual sexism and misogynistic attitudes can create a foundation that supports increasingly severe forms of violence

 humour may escalate to harassment, and, in extreme cases, to acts of physical violence such as sexual assault or murder.

IN THE NEWS Wayne Couzens, the former police officer who murdered Sarah Everard, was part of a WhatsApp group with colleagues that shared “grossly racist, sexist, and misogynistic” messages. The fact that members of the group worked for the police makes the challenge seem even more alarming.

When stories break about high-profile celebrities being accused of sexual abuse, it often comes to light that other people were aware, but for a variety of reasons, didn’t or couldn’t do anything about it.

The case of Gisèle Pelicot in France, shows us that abusers can be anyone. Madame Pelicot was raped by dozens of men from her community after being drugged by her exhusband.

Each time a new story hits the headlines, campaigners point out that these cases are not isolated, but exist within the realm where sexual assault, rape and VAWG are normalised.

According to the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, in the 24 hours following the US election, there was a 4,600 per cent increase in mentions of the phrases ‘your body, my choice’ and ‘get back in the kitchen’ on X. Andrew Tate, who has over ten million followers on X, posted comments such as “Quiet hoe”, “The men are back in charge” and “You have to make me a sandwich”

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in response to posts expressing disappointment in the election outcome.

Teachers have warned of a rise in misogynistic language in classrooms, directly linked to online influencers such as Andrew Tate. Last year, it was reported that there had been an increase in the number of cases being referred to Prevent by schools worried about Tate’s influence. Tate has been charged with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women.

Advice aimed at addressing sexual assault frequently places the responsibility on women to safeguard themselves, with recommendations such as avoiding going out after dark, limiting alcohol consumption, or travelling in groups.

One example that is often highlighted is that female students starting university are offered safety courses to protect themselves from sexual assault, but there are no courses offered to male counterparts to prevent them from sexually assaulting their peers.

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MISOGYNISTIC TERRORISM In the context of Counter Terrorism, VAWG can also occur on a larger scale.

Perhaps the most well-known occurrence of misogynistic terrorism is the Isla Vista killings in 2014. Elliot Rodger killed six people leaving behind a 137-page manifesto, filled with misogynistic writings.

The police commissioner investigating the Bondi Junction attack earlier this year, said it was obvious the attacker had targeted women – 14 of the 16 people stabbed that day were women. This was not deemed a terror attack, and the motive remains unclear.

The man who killed five people in Plymouth in 2021, was part of incel communities online, where he expressed misogynistic views.

The 2020 machete attack in Toronto is considered a misogynistic terror attack, with the attacker claiming to be a proud incel. The 2018 Toronto van attack is also believed to have a misogynistic motive, with the attacker also describing himself as an incel.

High-profile concerts, such as those by Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift, have also been targeted in terrorist attacks. The demographic of attendees at such events has drawn attention, with the Manchester Arena Inquiry revealing that Salman Abedi, the attacker in the 2017 bombing, exhibited misogynistic attitudes during his time at college.

There had been an increase in the number of cases being referred to Prevent by schools worried about Tate’s influence TACKLING THE ISSUE In August, the Scottish Government announced plans to address violence against women and girls.

The latest Equally Safe Delivery Plan is focussed on prevention of abuse across Scotland’s communities.

It also recognises the higher risk of abuse that women and girls with learning disabilities face and aims to ensure that relevant educational settings are equipped to teach pupils about healthy relationships and improve access to support services.

Equalities minister Kaukab Stewart said: “Violence against women and girls is abhorrent and has no place in modern Scotland.

Since 2021, frontline projects backed by our Delivering Equally Safe Fund have supported nearly 60,000 adults, children and young people, and we are determined to build on that progress.

“This plan sets out our sustained focus on prevention, improving support services and ensuring the justice response is robust. E

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VAWG

Yvette Cooper ordered a review of the counter extremism strategy, considering VAWG in the same way as Islamist and farright extremism  “Gendered abuse can happen in any community and to ensure that it is tackled effectively and equitably for all women, we are strengthening our response to the diverse ways that violence and abuse can occur.

“That includes recognising that abusers could be extended family members rather than partners - like in some cases of honourbased violence - and ensuring tailored support is provided for vulnerable groups, including women with learning disabilities and migrants.”

The plan has been developed in partnership with The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

Around the same time, home secretary Yvette Cooper ordered a review of the counter extremism strategy, considering tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the same way as Islamist and far-right extremism.

The change would mean that teachers, healthcare professionals and local authority staff will be legally required to refer pupils they suspect of extreme misogyny to Prevent.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “For too long, Governments have failed to address the rise in extremism, both online and on our streets, and we’ve seen the number of young people radicalised online grow. Hateful incitement of all kinds fractures and frays the very fabric of our communities and our democracy.”

In September, the government set out new measures intended to aid the police’s fight against violence against women and girls.

As part of the government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in 999 control rooms.

Last year, on average, almost 100 domesticabuse-related offences were recorded by the police every hour.

The measures will form part of ‘Raneem’s Law’, which is named after Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in 2018. 13 reports were made to the police about concerns for Raneem’s

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safety, with no arrests made. On the night of her murder, Raneem called 999 four times.

A pilot will be rolled out across targeted police forces from early 2025, with specialists embedded in control rooms to advise on risk assessments and work with officers on the ground, to ensure that victims get a fast response when needed and are referred to support services as quickly as possible.

The specialists will be supported by dedicated teams to improve how the police respond to these kinds of calls, including using new technology to respond more quickly such as rapid video response.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Victims of appalling domestic abuse need to know that the police will be there for them.”

Furthermore, from November, through the launch of the new domestic abuse protection order pilot, more domestic abusers will be forced to stay away from their victims and face tougher sanctions if they fail to do so.

It will be a legal requirement for perpetrators to inform the police of any change in name or address, imposing electronic tagging, and

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ordering assessments for behaviour change programmes.

The orders will cover all forms of domestic abuse, including violence, stalking and controlling behaviour.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Domestic Abuse, Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, said: “Domestic abuse is a complex and entrenched societal problem that can inflict lifelong harm on victims and families, and accounts for a significant proportion of police-recorded crime.”

The government has also announced a new national strategy to use advanced data analysis and algorithms to target the most dangerous perpetrators of violence against women and girls.

Police forces will use new data-driven tools to focus on the small number of offenders responsible for the highest levels of harm.

The tools use computer programmes to bring together and analyse a range of police data to identify and pursue offenders involved in domestic abuse, sexual assault, harassment, and stalking. They will be used alongside

The government has also announced a new national strategy to use advanced data analysis and algorithms to target the most dangerous perpetrators police officers’ expert judgment, will help law enforcement prioritise and pursue the most dangerous offenders, and therefore enable a more effective allocation of police resources.

Working closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), and the College of Policing, the home secretary will oversee the development of a new national approach to the use of the tools.

The technology will also assist in building risk profiles for both perpetrators and victims, enabling law enforcement and partner agencies to implement robust management plans that disrupt offenders’ behaviour and enhance victim safety. L ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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PREVENT DUTY

IMPLEMENTING THE PREVENT DUTY – A WHOLE SCHOOL APPROACH Mubina Asaria, safeguarding consultant, at edtech charity LGfL - The National Grid for Learning looks at effective implementation of Prevent Duty in schools Effective implementation of the Prevent duty requires consistency, transparency and a whole school approach to ensure appropriate support is available for individuals who may demonstrate vulnerabilities to radicalisation.

This is ultimately an extension of the safeguarding process, in the same way that schools can help to safeguard young people from child sexual exploitation, drugs and other

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forms of harm. So what can schools do to help meet compliance and overcome typical issues and challenges?

Please see here some practical steps to support an effective, sustainable approach.

PLANNING The key to a successful strategy is planning, involving the whole school community. Schools

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can nominate a staff member as the school Prevent lead and set up a Prevent working group to set out a clear and shared vision.

This could include your senior leaders (SLT), designated safeguarding lead (DSL), PSHE/RSHE lead, CPD lead and a member of the Governing body. If this is logistically challenging, you could consider asking the SLT or an existing safeguarding forum to incorporate Prevent into their regular meetings as an ongoing agenda item.

Whilst it may not always be practical for everyone to always attend, the key lies in effective communication, ensuring all stakeholders are regularly updated on developments and given opportunities to share progress. A good starting point could be carrying out a baseline survey to identify aims – e.g. to build staff confidence around current vulnerability or promoting an understanding of British values – and get your team to complete the new ‘Prevent quiz for staff’ to identify knowledge gaps to shape your training, available for free at prevent.lgfl.net POLICY AND PRACTICE It is important to consider the findings from your discussions to ensure your strategy is embedded into the school culture. As well as

reviewing your school policy and practices around Prevent, you should also undertake a risk assessment, informed by engagement with your local authority Prevent team to assess E

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PREVENT DUTY

Schools should therefore consider a holistic approach to online safety  the local risk. This need not be Prevent specific and can be incorporated into your wider risk assessment. Remember that implementing the Prevent duty is not a tick-box exercise, which is why we’ve worked with colleagues at the Department for Education to develop a Prevent Self-Assessment Tool for Schools to provide a practical overview of areas to consider throughout the school year. By encouraging a cycle of continuous review, the tool can help you self-assess how well your Prevent policies and practices are embedded, and identify any challenges and areas of weakness.

PROMOTING BRITISH VALUES Ofsted will be looking for evidence of how British values permeate throughout the school.

Many schools will already be addressing these through subjects such as PSHE, RE and Citizenship, combined with extra-curricular initiatives via assemblies, circle time, school councils and debating clubs to promote student voice and opportunities to discuss topical issues in a safe space.

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Adopting a contextual safeguarding approach is also an effective way to embed the foundational knowledge and skills essential to manage risk.

This could involve conversations with young people to reflect on their context and any risk

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factors they could experience – online or through association with peers or adults – combined with cross-curricular opportunities to build on key safeguarding themes. There are several free resources to help facilitate discussion, build resilience to extremism and teach about fundamental British values, including Going Too Far – an interactive resource for primary and secondary schools to help understand extremism and promote critical thinking with videos, case studies and scenario-based activities.

Schools could also consider mapping their British values across and beyond the curriculum to provide a snapshot and identify any gaps.

ONLINE SAFETY With the Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales requiring schools to ensure children are safe from terrorist and extremist material when accessing the internet in school, including by establishing appropriate levels of filtering, it is important to remember that no filtering solution is fool proof. Schools should therefore consider a holistic approach to online safety, e.g. ensuring policies and user agreements are updated and signed, monitoring pupil/ staff activity, embedding an age-appropriate curriculum and promoting parental awareness.

An annual online safety audit can be helpful to reflect the fluid realities of technological change, evolving harms and user behaviours.

Ensure all staff have had training and that this is logged COMMUNICATE, REVIEW AND MONITOR Remember that clear communication and consistent messages will sustain awareness of your strategy across the school community: ensure all staff have had training and that this is logged; designated safeguarding leads receive more in-depth training, including on ideologies; provide regular updates at staff briefings; encourage governors to attend safeguarding and any relevant staff training or assemblies and to scrutinise policy and practice; and invite parents to a safeguarding session to raise awareness of Prevent as part of wider safeguarding issues including online safety. Do factor in time to review, monitor and evaluate your strategy through regular meetings with your Prevent or safeguarding team. M FURTHER INFORMATION

Further resources and in-depth training to support your whole school approach are available at charity prevent.lgfl.net and Educate Against Hate.

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SOCIAL MEDIA

EXTREMISM AND SOCIAL MEDIA: WHAT CAN BE DONE? We take a look at how the world of social media has become a platform for terrorists and extremists to influence others, and explore what needs to be done to stop it Social media and an ever-growing digital world has had a positive effect in many ways.

It can help people reconnect and forge new relationships, as well as helping businesses to grow.

However, it has also created an increase in loneliness and poor mental health, especially for the younger population.

Hannah Rose, an analyst with the Institute of Strategic Dialogue (ISD) thinktank, told The Guardian there had been a “surge in online extremist ecosystems” for several years, which remain “very easy for children to access”, and that “offline vulnerabilities, which kids are more

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likely to have, can make somebody more prone to adopting extremist views”.

Social media platforms like Telegram are one of the many ways extremists can meet, collate dangerous materials and influence others.

FROM SOCIALS TO THE STREETS News stories of young people and adults found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism or taking part in extremist activities online have become more common over the past 20 years.

For example, the riots that began in Southport and spread across the UK were spurred on by misinformation spread online.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? It can seem that social media does more harm than good, but it is no good pretending it doesn’t exist. Instead, we need to make sure there are suitable protections in place so users are able to stay safe online and avoid dangerous content as much as possible.

One way the UK government has tried to do this is by introducing the Online Safety Act in October 2023. This piece of legislation aims to protect people online, particularly children, and urges tech firms to manage their platforms’ content more.

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When false information circulated online about the identity of the attacker, many were quick to take the claims as truth.

This is direct proof that information on social media has the ability to influence many people, regardless of whether it is true or not.

Another example of acts of terrorism being prepared with help from digital resources comes from Liverpool earlier this year.

Then 20-year-old Jacob Graham was convicted of numerous offences, including Preparation of terrorist acts, two counts of dissemination of terrorist publications and four counts of possession of material likely to be useful to a terrorist.

Upon investigation, officers reviewed his media devices and identified that he had collected a huge number of manuals, instructions and publications, which focused on providing instructions for the manufacture of firearms, ammunition and explosives; some of which were printed out and stored in a folder in his home.

He was also found to have constructed a document entitled ‘Freedom Encyclopaedia’ and shared it with contacts over the internet.

This was a manual filled with instructions on how to build weapons, including shotguns, nail bombs, explosives, including Black Powder (also known as gunpowder) and plastic explosive; ignition devices and instructions on how the perpetrators might evade the police.

Superintendent Andy Meeks of Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) said: “Online extremism is a growing threat and this case sadly is a prime example; where a young man from Merseyside has become radicalised online, without ever having left his bedroom.

“He shared extreme content online recklessly and without any regard for who received his instructions or for what purpose. He even went so far as to say he intended this material to be instructional to other terrorists.”

The bill enforces these companies to protect children and young adults from harmful and illegal material. This includes content that shows terrorism, coercive or controlling behaviour, and incites hatred and violence.

However, many organisations and experts have criticised the Act for not being strict enough, as well as voicing concerns over limiting freedom of speech.

Full Fact, for example, said that the Act “does not address health misinformation, which the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated could be potentially harmful.”

They also added that the Act does not “set out any new provisions to misinformation that happens during ‘information incidents’ when information spreads quickly online, such as during terror attacks or during the August 2024 riots following the Southport murders.”

Much of the pressure falls to the social media platforms themselves to keep their users safe, and implement proper moderation.

Following the Southport riots, Adam Hadley, executive director of Tech Against Terrorism, added: “Telegram and X must take immediate action to improve their content moderation and proactively manage their platforms to prevent further spread of violent disinformation. Both platforms bear some moral responsibility for the risk of physical violence resulting from unchecked extremist activity.” L ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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CYBERSECURITY

CYBER TEAMS ARE STRESSED AND UNDERFUNDED CYBER RESILIENCE STARTS WITH THEM Chris Dimitriadis, chief global strategy officer at ISACA argues that cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and stopping them starts with investing in staff You don’t need a crystal ball to know that cyberattacks will only become more high profile and more frequent over the coming years. We’ve seen it in real time this year as major hacks and outages have disrupted public services, critical infrastructure, and business alike.

Where cyberattacks are concerned, it’s becoming a matter of when they will happen – not if they will happen. At ISACA, our latest State of Cybersecurity report revealed that 70 per cent of respondents – cybersecurity professionals – said they are experiencing E ISSUE 60 | COUNTER TERROR BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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61 per cent feel their organisation’s cybersecurity team is understaffed

 more or the same level of cybersecurity attacks compared to a year ago. 58 per cent agree that it is likely that their organisation will experience a cyberattack in the next year, which has increased from 52 per cent in 2023.

That the situation is worsening points to the fact that there needs to be more investment in the right staff and skills to better prepare and respond to such attacks when they happen.

BUT CYBERSECURITY TEAMS ARE STRESSED AND UNDERFUNDED Despite this growing problem, the lack of funding and investment in cyber teams is only exacerbating the issue. In our research, 90 per cent of respondents reported that they feel their

organisation’s cybersecurity budget is currently somewhat or significantly underfunded – and a further 61 per cent feel their organisation’s cybersecurity team is understaffed.

As a result, cyber professionals are not sufficiently prepared to carry out their crucial work, working in thin teams without the necessary budget, especially as the threat landscape becomes harder to navigate. And they’re feeling the strain – in the same survey, 68 per cent of cyber professionals reported that they feel their role is more stressful now compared to five years ago, with 79 per cent of them putting this down to the increasingly complex threat landscape.

The lack of support, training, and investment is therefore limiting the cyber resilience of those organisations whose teams cannot work to their full potential. Many of these businesses neglect cyber teams when it comes to decision making; 47 per cent of professionals working in cyber said they were not involved in the development, onboarding, or implementation of AI solutions, and 42 per cent were not involved in the development of a policy governing the use of AI within their organisations.

This is a critical oversight given the cyber risk implications of new and emerging technologies like AI, and suggests that businesses are failing to prioritise cyber resilience when making these decisions. E

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CYBERSECURITY  In essence, cyber teams which are understaffed and underfunded work in a more reactive than proactive way, firefighting as threats emerge rather than preventing them in the first place. This leaves professionals stressed, worried, and overworked, and the organisation itself more vulnerable to attack.

Training and diverse hiring practices are the key to combating the skills gap

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SKILLS AND TRAINING ARE A KEY WAY TO SUPPORT TEAMS AND DRIVE RESILIENCE The cybersecurity industry has a persistent skills gap – the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in Europe ranges between 260,000 and 500,000.

Indeed, our State of Cybersecurity report found that 45 per cent of respondents reported another reason they feel that their role is more stressful now than five years ago is because they are not sufficiently trained or skilled.

At a time when bad actors are only getting more sophisticated, we can’t afford to put both businesses and people at risk – a single attack on one company can have adverse effects on its entire supply chain and network.

Every organisation needs trained and skilled professionals in the right roles who understand the ever-evolving nature of the threat of cyberattacks. Cyber roles are constantly evolving as new technology emerges – take, for example, the rise of AI and the web of cyber risks which have surfaced as a result.

Professionals working in the industry need consistent upskilling or they risk being several steps behind bad actors.

Training and diverse hiring practices are the key to combating the skills gap and making organisations more resilient. Given the massive shortage of people in the industry, the ‘conventional route’, such as a degree in cybersecurity or years of experience, does not need to be the only way for talent to enter the industry. Businesses should encourage people

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Collaboration is key to creating secure environments and frameworks

who don’t necessarily have a background in security to take the leap into cyber and then train them on the job in order to widen the talent pool.

The best route into the cybersecurity sector varies based on every individual. But there are several ways to earn certifications and skills.

In fact, 51 per cent of cyber professionals feel that soft skills are the biggest skills gap in the industry. Of the soft skills in question, 54 per cent state that communication skills (such as speaking and listening skills) are the most important, followed by problem-solving (53 per cent) and critical thinking skills (48 per cent).

If businesses rethink their hiring strategies and prioritise candidates who demonstrate the necessary strong soft skills, enthusiasm, and a genuine interest in the sector, they can train those people as they go and support them in earning the right qualifications. Organisations therefore become more resilient to external threats and have a healthy workforce of cyber professionals who feel supported in their career development.

CYBER RESILIENCE IS PART OF AN ORGANISATION’S DUTY OF CARE Cyber resilience is so important, not only because a cyber resilient organisation can better protect itself, but because a cyber resilient organisation also protects its customers, suppliers, and everyone across its network. Supply chain resilience is a combination of a business’ level of vulnerability

and its level of dependency on others in its network.

Businesses should not invest in cybersecurity as a box-ticking exercise, but as part of their duty of care to end-users, customers, and stakeholders.

In order to build resilience, businesses must understand their key dependencies and where along the supply chain potential issues lie and what to do in response if things go wrong.

In the cybersecurity industry, collaboration is key to creating secure environments and frameworks. Whatever the size of the organisation, conversations around risk need to happen with others in the network and make sure everybody is comfortable with how processes are being organised and run across the chain. Companies must talk to each other about the threats they are facing and protect each other against the big-ticket issues which can go wrong.

CYBER RESILIENCE IS A TEAM EFFORT All in all, dealing with the growing threat of cyber attacks will require a multi-pronged approach from each and every organisation. Driving cyber resilience starts at the very beginning of the process with the hiring practices, training opportunities, and career development of cyber professionals to plug the skills gap and help teams feel supported and skilled.

This effort should continue through to involving these professionals in both the day-to-day decision making and the big-ticket strategies like the implementation of AI solutions to ensure security is built into any new processes. Then, businesses should think about their cyber resilience holistically and collaborate with other organisations about the threats they face and how they can be overcome.

By building a truly cyber resilient society, cyberattacks will still happen, but they will not be as damaging and catastrophic as those we have seen in the last few years. Rather than completely halting public infrastructure or crippling businesses and their consumer trust, organisations will be able to limit the harm of the attack and carry out a response plan which is thorough, informed, and effective. M FURTHER INFORMATION

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HOSTILE RECONNAISSANCE

PROJECT SERVATOR: A DECADE OF VIGILANCE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP The NPSA looks back at ten years of Project Servator If you have ever walked through a local high street or town square and spotted a rather visible police presence, then you have quite possibly witnessed Project Servator at work.

The initiative was first launched 10 years ago

by City of London Police and has since been adopted by 27 police forces.

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Project Servator involves police carrying out highly visible deployments made up of a range of resources. Some are obvious, such as uniformed and armed police officers, dogs and horses, vehicle checkpoints and sometimes even drones. Others are less visible, such as plain clothes officers and state-of-the-

art CCTV. At the core of Project SERVATOR is unpredictability – they can be deployed anywhere and at any time.

The purpose is to disrupt a range of criminal activities, from shoplifting to potential terror attacks. They do this by identifying and deterring hostile reconnaissance – the act of information gathering by criminals that helps them plan and prepare to commit a crime.

Hostile reconnaissance is a vital component of the attack planning process. For terrorists and other criminals to successfully carry out their plans, they need to gather as much information about their intended target as possible. This is usually done online and then

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Officers involved in Project Servator are specially trained to spot tell-tale signs that someone may be gathering information

in person by visiting the place they want to target. By identifying these activities, police officers can take steps to disrupt their plans.

Unlike traditional policing, officers involved in Project Servator are specially trained to spot tell-tale signs that someone may be gathering information.

Cooperation between the public, commercial organisations and the police remains the greatest advantage in tackling all forms of criminality. Project Servator plays an important role in encouraging everyone to work together to make the UK an uninviting target for criminals and terrorists, whilst providing a reassuring presence in the community.

10TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROJECT SERVATOR Project Servator was developed, tested, and refined over a five-year period by experts at the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) in partnership with the City of London Police.

NPSA’s development of the behavioural science that underpins Project Servator, paired with E

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An important part of any Project Servator deployment is engagement with the public to inform and reassure them  the ongoing cycle of evaluation and refinement over the last decade, continues to ensure that the tactic is effective against terrorism and other threats.

It was first introduced by the City of London Police, who adopted the collaborative community approach in early 2014, aimed at further protecting the City and reinforcing the existing ‘ring of steel’. It was also used during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow by Police Scotland and partners in the summer of 2014, to build on and complement the Games’ safety and security plans. Since then, many more police forces in the UK, including the British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police, have implemented the initiative.

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NETWORK OF VIGILANCE An important part of any Project Servator deployment is engagement with the public to inform and reassure them. Uniformed officers talk to members of the public about what the police are doing in the area and explain the key role that individuals play by being vigilant themselves and reporting any suspicious activity. Officers will hand out leaflets detailing what Project Servator is and how someone can report anything unusual.

Officers will also talk to businesses and their staff about Project Servator and the importance of remaining vigilant and reporting anything that seems out of place. As part of their deployments, police officers will often go into business premises, such as coffee shops and retail outlets, to talk to staff and customers. Businesses have an important dual role to play — remaining vigilant and reporting anything suspicious, as well as reassuring their customers that Project Servator is there to keep them safe and encouraging them to be vigilant too.

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP There are some effective actions that businesses and organisations can take to help increase the impact of Project Servator: authorising security officers to join police deployments can visibly demonstrate strong collaboration and vigilance; utilising CCTV control rooms to monitor and report suspicious activity can expand the operation’s reach; and permitting temporary posters and the use of any digital signage to display Project Servator safety messaging and allowing officer engagement with customers can help inform and reassure the public. This can also include amplifying Project Servator’s message by sharing and engaging with their content on social media can also increase local exposure and create a ripple deterrence effect and publicly supporting Project Servator through media quotes and interviews, as well as maintaining an ongoing PR and digital collaboration can create a lasting deterrent.

Over the past 10 years, Project Servator has proved what working in partnership can achieve.

It has helped the police use existing resources

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A massive deterrent for criminals and those with harmful intent is the belief that it is not only the police that are on the lookout for them, but that everyone in the community is involved. To maximise this deterrent effect, it is important to show that businesses and the local community support this police initiative and have involved their employees, security staff, and control rooms. The aim is to create a network of vigilance that makes it difficult for criminals to operate.

Over the past 10 years, Project Servator has proved what working in partnership can achieve effectively to disrupt terrorist attack planning and involved both businesses and the public as part of a collective effort. The initiative has been successful in gathering intelligence that has assisted Counter Terrorism Units across the UK in investigating and preventing acts of terror, resulting in arrests for a multitude of offences.

And it is responsible for removing illegal firearms, knives, and drugs from the streets.

Together, we’ve got it covered. M About National Protective Security Authority The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) is the UK government’s national technical authority (NTA) for physical and personnel protective security. We are part of MI5, which means we use the latest intelligence as well as research to inform our advice. To find out more, visit: National Protective Security Authority | NPSA. FURTHER INFORMATION

Implementing a range of security measures is crucial to mitigating the impact of a terrorist attack or incident. NPSA offers guidance to help small businesses, large organisations and venues protect their staff and customers.

For more information, visit NPSA’s website.

Additionally, details of Project Servator can be found at www.counterterrorism.police.uk.

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REVIEW OF THE YEAR

CTB’S REVIEW OF 2024 CTB takes a look back at some of the biggest stories this year, including Martyn’s Law, a new government and the riots JANUARY In January, the UK parliament declared Hizb ut-Tahirir a terrorist organisation. Belonging to or supporting this group was made a criminal offence, with a potential sentence of 14 years.

The UK and the US announced sanctions for those involved in financing Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

A new law was introduced to ban the possession, sale, manufacturing, or transportation of zombie-style knives and machetes, in an initiative to protect young people and make streets safer for all. The full ban came into force in September this year.

The new Online Safety Act offences also came into full force, which included criminalising threatening messages, death threats, and encouraging others to self harm, all of which carry a sanction of up to five years in prison.

FEBRUARY In February, the Home Office launched a standard tier consultation of Martyn’s Law, building on previous legislation and investigating how the bill would affect smaller premises. The proposals set out different requirements for standard tier premises, with a capacity of 100-799 individuals, and enhanced tier premises and public events with capacities of 800 individuals or more.

Jonathan Hall KC was also appointed independent reviewer of state threat legislation, a new role established as part of the new National Security Act 2023. He will assess and report on the fairness, effectiveness, and proportionality of UK state threats legislation.

For the first time, defence industry spending exceeded £25 billion with spending doubling in Yorkshire and the Humber, and raising by 25 per cent in Wales. 209,000 jobs have been supported by the MOD’s expenditure.

MARCH In March, Sweden became NATO’s newest member, upping its membership to 32 countries.

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The government announced “an updated, more focused” definition of ‘extremism’ “to tackle the ever-evolving threat of extremism in the UK”. This update follows the Community Security Trust recording a 147 per cent increase in antisemitic incidents in the UK in 2023 compared to 2022, and Tell MAMA recording a 335 per cent increase in Islamophobic cases in the last four months.

Latest data released by the Home Office showed that 2023 had the highest number of terrorism arrests of young people since records

APRIL In April, two men were charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act, for spying for China.

A man was jailed for terrorism offences, after he was found sending hoax packages containing white powder and letters to primary schools, shopping centres, and businesses, telling recipients to “run”.

General Gwyn Jenkins was appointed as the new national security adviser to replace Sir Tim Burrow under the Sunak government.

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began on 11th September 2001, with 19 percent of the 219 terrorism-related arrests being individuals under 17.

Furthermore, the Mayor of London announced £875,000 of funding to empower communities to tackle hate, intolerance and extremism, as part of the fifth year of the grassroots Shared Endeavour Fund to empower Londoners to challenge racist and hateful views in their communities.

Sweden became NATO’s newest member, upping its membership to 32 countries As part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation, several people were charged with an investigation into alleged offences under the National Security Act under legislation that came into effect last December.

MAY In May, Martyn’s Law campaigners, including Figen Murray, Martyn Hett’s mother, finished their walk from Manchester to Downing Street on the seventh anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack. Murray then met with PM Rishi Sunak and then leader of the opposition Keir Starmer. E

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In May, Martyn’s Law campaigners, including Figen Murray, Martyn Hett’s mother, finished their walk from Manchester to Downing Street

 JUNE On 3rd June, hospitals across London experienced a ransomware attack, with King’s College Hospital and Guy’s and St Thomas’ among those affected. It was speculated that the Russian cyber-criminal group Qilin were responsible for the attack.

The Metropolitan Police announced they had released 160 football banning orders, the largest ever for a single season, which came as the Euros were about kick off that week. Sanctions included banning people from football venues, their towns, or even requiring people to surrender their passports for European competitions or international fixtures.

On a similar note, Peter Both, the chief of police in Gelsenkirchen, prepared for disruptive Serbian hooligans during the England’s first match in the Euros. Despite violence during the day, the match itself was relatively peaceful.

JULY Thursday 4th July saw the UK’s general election, with the Labour Party securing 412 seats, an increase of 211 since 2019, and Sir Keir Starmer winning a landslide victory against Rishi Sunak, who lost 251 seats since 2019, leaving the Conservatives’ total seats at 121. Prior to the General Election, Starmer wrote to Martyn’s Law campaigner Figen Murray and promised to introduce Martyn’s Law as soon as possible.

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By July, UEFA had handed out a total 1,270,000 euros worth of fines for offences during the group stages of the Euro 2024 competition, with England receiving 12,500 euros worth of these, which was relatively little compared to countries like Croatia (€220,875) and Albania (€171,375).

Later that month, during a speech by King Charles setting out the government’s new plans, Martyn’s Law was listed as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, requiring venues to put measures into place to deal with the threat of terrorism. Of the 39 outlined bills, others include the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, and the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, also with aims to protect the UK from threats of attack.

The new home secretary Yvette Cooper took the first steps in establishing a new UK Border Security Command (BSC), which will work alongside the National Crime Agency (NCA), intelligence agencies, police, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force to crack down on smuggling gangs facilitating small boat crossings.

Police also recorded a huge increase in violence against woman and girls (VAWG), with an increase of 37 per cent between 2018 and 2023. Comprehensive data and analysis revealed that 3,000 gender-based violence related offences are recorded every day, and policing has subsequently ensured that VAWG is officially classed as a national threat. An updated framework has brought the police response to VAWG in line with counter-terrorism and serious organised crime by adopting the 4P approach (Prepare; Protect; Pursue; Prevent) from counter-terrorism to VAWG.

AUGUST Following the stabbing of three children at a dance studio in Southport on 29th July, August was characterised by violence, disorder, and riots fuelled by far-right extremism and Islamophobia after misinformation about the attacker’s identity was spread online.

Consequently, the PM launched a crackdown on criminal and violent activity, drawing up a new National Violent Disorder Programme to allow the country to share intelligence on the activity of violent groups to aid their swift disarmament.

The government offered emergency security to mosques, allowing mosques to access rapid security to be deployed.

Following violent riots across the UK, prosecutors and police declared that terrorism would be considered for those inciting violence.

As part of Taylor Swift’s Era’s tour, three concerts scheduled to take place 8-10th August in Vienna were cancelled amid security concerns following the government confirmation of a planned terrorist attack. Austrian authorities arrested three teenagers in the following days.

The Sunday Telegraph revealed that the home secretary ordered a review of the counter extremism strategy following a report published by the National Police Chiefs Council on violence against women and girls (VAWG), which it called an ‘epidemic’. Yvette Cooper’s review considered tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the same way as terrorism and far-right extremism, meaning that teachers, healthcare professionals and local authority staff would be legally required to refer pupils they suspect of extreme misogyny to Prevent.

Towards the end of the month, the Home Secretary also announced new measures intended to strengthen border security to enforce immigration rules and increase returns.

The government aims to achieve the highest rate of removals without right to stay, including failed asylum seekers, since 2018.

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Following violent riots across the UK, prosecutors and police declared that terrorism would be considered for those inciting violence

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 The government later announced up to £75 million of new investment for the Border Security Command, which would be redirected from the previous government’s Illegal Migration Act, and would go towards cuttingedge new technology, extra officers, and further covert capabilities across the system. Further developments include covert cameras and modern monitoring technology, a new unit to improve intelligence, and more work to tackle organised crime groups.

On 17th and 18th September, thousands of people were injured and 32 were killed after communication devices exploded across Lebanon, many of which used by the militant group Hezbollah.

Yvette Cooper announced new measures to aid the police’s fight against VAWG, which will form part of ‘Raheem’s Law’. A pilot will be rolled out from early 2025, with domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms to advise on risk assessments to work with officers on the frontlines.

As part of the government’s initiative to reduce VAWG by 50 per cent within the next decade, a new national strategy to use advanced data analysis as part of its tactics was announced, allowing police forces to use computer programmes to bring together and analyse a

OCTOBER In October, the Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana was charged with two further offences on top of his already-existing three charges of murder, ten charges of attempted murder, and one charge of possessing a knife.

The additional charges are production of a of a biological toxin, ricin, contrary to Section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act 1974, and possessing a pdf file named “Military Studies in the Jihad Against the Tyrants: The Al-Qaeda Training Manual”.

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range of data to identity and pursue offenders involved in domestic abuse, sexual assault, harassment, and stalking.

From 24th September, zombie-style knives and machetes were added to the list of prohibited weapons in the Criminal Justice Act 1988, as passed in January this year. Zombie-style weapons are defined as those that are over eight inches in length and often have a serrated edge or more than two sharp points.

A cyberattack affected WiFi at 19 UK railway stations on 25th September, and those connected to public WiFi networks were directed to webpages containing Islamophobic messages and details of several terrorist attacks across Europe.

In November, the government announced another £75 million of funding to boost border security Martyn’s Law had its second reading in parliament, requiring venues with a capacity of more than 200 people to have a plan in place should an attack occur, as well as staff being required to undergo training. Bigger venues will have stronger requirements.

NOVEMBER In November, the government announced another £75 million of funding to boost border security, bringing the total investment in the Border Security Command over the next two years to £150 million, which he revealed at the INTERPOL General Assembly in Glasgow.

Keir Starmer elected Jonathan Powell to be his new national security adviser, to replace Sir Tim Burrow.

Daniel Khalife pleaded guilty to escaping from Wandsworth Prison in September last year, having previously pleaded not guilty. Following the escape, an audit found 81 security failings at Wandsworth Prison. L

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