| The
safety of occupiers and visitors
to the building or complex must be paramount.
Ensure that : |
a)
| positive
attitudes to property management are adopted by all concerned in order to minimise
the opportunities for bomb concealment and other crimes. Property and equipment
must be properly secured, premises must be kept clean and tidy and staff trained
to be vigilant in their attention to suspicious objects or people, both inside
the building and in its vicinity. | |
| | |
b) | the
fire managers, wardens and employees along with the emergency services are fully
conversant with, and in agreement with, the procedures to be followed in the case
of emergencies both during and outside normal working hours. Where Fire Managers
are not provided, lists of employees must be kept up-to-date with copies deposited
at the access points to the factory. | |
| | |
c) | in
the case of multi-occupancy buildings, co-ordinating meetings between landlords,
tenants and security advisers are held regularly to review and reaffirm procedures
and person-to-person and public address communication systems. Agreed procedures
must be carefully documented and exchanged among the parties concerned. |
| | |
| d) | particular
regard is paid to the motives and characteristics of terrorist attacks or actions
as they may affect you and your organisation. A careful evaluation of the level
of threat to your organisation must be undertaken and regularly reviewed. Bomb
threats, hostage taking and product contamination should all be the subject of
individual contingency planning. | PRECAUTIONARY
ACTION - Survey
your premises to identify secure/safe areas.
- Produce
detailed procedures for searching your premises, including car parks and refuse
areas, and the action to be taken if bombs are discovered or suspected.
- Make
your staff aware of the nature of bombs (e.g. high explosive, incendiary, car,
letter), which are designed to cause death, injury or damage.
- Be
aware that bombs are often small, portable and easily disguised or concealed.
It is vital to have both systems of physical constraints and procedures that prevent
unimpeded access and egress and movement within the building. Clear and tidy corridors
and offices enable unclaimed objects to be seen immediately.
- Train
and encourage staff to have a vigilant attitude so that they are ready to identify
suspicious actions or objects and to take appropriate action. Police never object
to false alarms when the call is made in good faith.
- Take
sensible protective measures - check the adequacy of your physical security, including
all alarm and security systems. Fit protective film to your windows, install special
curtains etc.
- Consider
the benefits of screening devices in postal receiving rooms with checks made on
all suspicious letters and packets received.
- Any
vehicle seen which gives cause for concern should be reported to the police. If
a car park is out of sight, consider frequent checks. An enclosed car park with
a gate or barrier will prevent the entry of unauthorised vehicles. Establish the
bona fides of each driver having access to your car park or service areas.
- Prepare
detailed contingency plans to minimise disruption and ensure immediate business
continuity following a major incident. Remember a building may be damaged or inaccessible
as a result of a bomb explosion.
Key
features of such plans include: -
alternative accommodation for staff;
- restoration
of telecom/data links;
- backup
arrangements for computer and critical records;
these should be kept off-site,
sensibly distant, and up-to-date; - notification
of arrangements to customers and suppliers.
9.1
Make a clear assessment of action to be taken sequentially following an incident,
e.g. after 1 hour, 3 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 1 month etc. 9.2
Ensure individuals have a clear responsibility to act,
that key priorities
are established,
that deputies are known and that one person has overall
supervisory control. 9.3
Remember your local Police Crime Prevention Officer is always available
to
provide individual advice. ACTION
ON RECEIVING A THREAT - Details
of a telephone call must be recorded in a prescribed form. A suggested form is
available by email in conjunction with this procedure.
- It
is essential that police are informed as a matter of priority to enable them to
make an evaluation and response.
Search
Procedures - Searching
of premises is the responsibility of Management from individual businesses.
Search plans need to accommodate communal areas within the building. - Searches
must be conducted by staff working within, and thus familiar with, the area of
search.
- Search
results need to be collated at one control point.
- Where
a suspect device is found, it must not be handled or disturbed. If the device
is a bomb, the location must be regarded as a scene of serious crime. The police
must be called immediately and witnesses identified.
Evacuation
Procedures -
There may be occasions when it is safer to evacuate to safe/secure areas within,
rather than outside, the building. The decision to evacuate the whole or part
of a building will rest with management of the premises. However there may be
occasions when the police have information that causes them to order an evacuation
of a building. In that event, the instructions of the senior officer present must
be followed.
- Review
and practice the procedures for evacuation. It is important to appreciate that
evacuations because of a bomb alert can differ from those resulting from a fire
alarm. Evacuation in stages, for example, may not be possible and assembly points
must be at least 150 metres away from, and out of sight of, the suspect bomb.
Consider the forms of communication necessary to effect evacuation to the site
chosen.
- Detailed
attention must be given to the routing of evacuations away from danger, to the
closure of public car parks (particularly multi-level) and associated buildings,
to the maintenance of access for emergency vehicles, and to the means of deflecting
arriving visitors or servicing vehicles.
- Procedures
need to be devised for the re-occupation of the building.
Bibliography Bombs:
Defusing the threat - A guide for businesses
City of London Police (undated) Bombs
: Defusing the threat - A handbook for Managers and Security Officers
Metropolitan
Police (undated) |
