Project Griffin: Plea for one million town and city workers to tackle terror threat
Chief police officers are urging UK business leaders to “play their part” in keeping communities safe by supporting a new people`s army of one million in the fight against terror.
Apr 20, 2016
By Nick Hudson
Chief police officers are urging UK business leaders to “play their part” in keeping communities safe by supporting a new people`s army of one million in the fight against terror.
The initiative is aimed at bolstering an existing scheme which currently sees police train around 100,000 workers a year.
The plan, announced by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), wants companies to teach staff who work in crowded places how to react to attacks and show them what to do in the rare event of a major incident unfolding.
The move comes after atrocities in Paris and Brussels led to calls for more vigilance from all communities, including the business sector.
Details of the ambitious project were announced at the annual Security and Counter Terrorism Expo in London on Wednesday (April 20).
Detective Chief Superintendent Scott Wilson, the national police coordinator for Protect and Prepare, pledged an extension to the self-delivery package Project Griffin supporting existing trainers at companies to pass on advice to colleagues.
He told an audience of security professionals that company bosses who support the project the countrys leading counter terrorism awareness scheme will be helping to keep staff, customers and communities safe.
Det Chief Supt Wilson said: “Although the UK threat level has remained unchanged since August 2014, it is still at severe.
“The police service is working tirelessly to address the threat but we need everyone to play a part in keeping the public alert, not alarmed.
“Police can help explain what the threats and risks to different sectors are but companies are better placed to explain to staff exactly what action they can take to enhance their security and how to respond if the worst happens.
“Individual organisations have vital protective security information such as building layouts, security equipment and safety procedures. They have the local knowledge that could be vital to keeping staff and the public safe. This is why we have devised self-briefing packages bespoke to different sectors.
“We have developed excellent working partnerships since the launch of Project Griffin and hope this approach will help us provide many more eyes and ears to assist the police.
Companies who meet the criteria should contact us and we will work with their training teams to ensure they have all that they need to deliver Project Griffin approved training themselves.
Many businesses have already agreed to take part in the self-briefing programme.
ABTA head of destinations and sustainability, Nikki White, said: The Project Griffin initiative is an excellent way for business and individuals to become more aware of counter terrorism preventative measures.
“We are working with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NACTSO) to provide our members with industry training, customer advice and support related to Project Griffin both here and overseas.
Organisations signing up to the initiative will need to be public limited companies and have a team of qualified trainers.
Priority will be given to those who operate in a crowded place, such as a city centre, sporting or entertainment complex.
Police will continue to offer the briefings for smaller organisations in priority areas who do not have their own training teams.
Security Minister John Hayes said: “Everyone has a role to play in making sure we are alert to, but not alarmed by, the terrorist threat.
“This is a vital initia