News - Advice from Counter Terrorism Security Advisory Office to places of worship

Following the recent tragic attack in Manchester, some communities will be feeling an increased sense of anxiety and worry so the Counter Terrorism Security Advisory Office has issued guidance and resources.

Please keep updated with the UK Threat Level. We are currently at substantial, meaning an attack is likely. To receive threat level updates, subscribe to Mi5’s threat level alert RSS feed.

Immediate steps you can take to strengthen your protection 

Complete the following free counter terrorism awareness training online

• SCaN for All Staff | Hostile Reconnaissance | NPSA
• ACT Awareness e-Learning | ProtectUK

Review site security, ensuring that existing vulnerabilities are addressed such as faults with existing doors, locks or CCTV cameras

• Consider and adopt measures to keep your establishments safe using the crime prevention toolkit

Create or review existing counter terrorism response plans, exercise and test them and ensure staff are aware of how to respond in the event of an attack.

It is important to establish effective incident response plans and procedures to ensure everyone knows what to do in the event of a terrorist incident, how to look after those at your location and surrounding facilities and how to help reduce the overall impact of any incident.

• ACT in a Box Exercise – Marauding Terrorist Attack
• ACT in a Box Exercise – Improvised Explosive Device
• A Quick Guide – Developing Incident Plans for Small Businesses
• NPSA lockdown advice video – https://youtu.be/ASbfiecD6m4
• Evacuation, invacuation, lockdown, protected spaces | ProtectUK

Ensure you have adequate first aid provisions such as a Public Accessible Trauma (PAcT) Kit and staff have completed CT first aid awareness training  

• First Aid Provisions | ProtectUK
• Standards for Public Access Trauma (PAcT) First aid kits – equipment | ProtectUK
• Counter terrorism first aid awareness | ProtectUK
• First Aid | Personal Safety & Security for High-Risk Individuals | NPSA

Guidance for Religious Establishments – Security Minded Communications

Religious establishments across the UK are crucial components of society; they offer spiritual guidance, support to the vulnerable and a place for the community to come together. The very spirit of religious venues and events make them open and welcoming. However, this spirit and the beliefs that these venues and events represent make them attractive targets for people seeking to undertake criminal acts.

Religious groups regularly publish detailed information about their venues and events which, whilst useful for their congregation and community, can also be useful for another audience – those wishing to undertake a hostile act against their venue, event or people. These acts could range from petty criminality, such as theft, to ideologically, religiously, or politically motivated acts, like terrorism.

This guidance document provides information on the concept of Security-Minded Communications, which should be considered when publishing information for the public.

Funding

• Protective security for faith communities – GOV.UK
• Jewish Community Protective Security Grant
• Protective Security for Mosques Scheme
• Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme
• Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme
• Places of worship | The National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Grants for places of worship – Pilgrim Trust
• UK Charitable Grants For Churches & Funding For Repairs

Martyn’s Law

Under the new Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, known as Martyn’s Law, places of worship are all designated as being in the standard tier, even if the expected number of attendees exceeds 800. This document contains all the information you currently need about this new legislation. There is a 24 month implementation period for this, and help and guidance will be regularly updated on ProtectUK – Martyn’s Law overview and what you need to know | ProtectUK

Further guidance

• ProtectUK
• National Protective Security Authority | NPSA
• ACT Early | Prevent Radicalisation

Have you seen or heard something that doesn’t feel right? Could it be related to terrorism? Trust your instincts and report your concerns. Always call 999 in an emergency.