Assessing Possible Threats

Assessing the threat

It can sometimes be very easy to do a superficial assessment of security issues that may be faced by a particular location or event and then jump straight to the product selection stage. This in turn can lead to a product solution that is not necessarily the best available or one that is more expensive than necessary, or both. Help with assessing the possible threat and identifying operational requirements is available from various sources including:

National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO)

The National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) is a police unit that supports the ‘protect and prepare’ strands of the government’s counter terrorism strategy.

NaCTSO supports a network of circa 190 counter terrorism security advisors (CTSAs) who work within local police forces as officers and staff. Their primary role is to provide help, advice, and guidance on all aspects of counter terrorism protective security to specified industry sectors.

You can download the latest version of the NPSA Protect Duty / Martyns Law guidance document here.

Counter Terror Security Advisers (CTSA's)

Counter terrorism security advisers (CTSAs) are part of the police service and work with businesses and the community to identify and assess sites that may be vulnerable to terrorist or extremist attack.

They also work with trade organisations and professional bodies to ensure counter terrorism protective security advice is incorporated into general crime prevention advice and guidance.

Working with businesses

CTSAs work with businesses to:

devise and develop appropriate protective security plans to minimise impact on their sites and the surrounding community
explain the threats from terrorism and advise on resilience

CTSAs are trained in specialist areas and can provide advice and guidance on:

explosives and precursor chemicals
pathogens and toxins
radiological sources
site and vulnerable point surveying
integrated security systems
designing out vehicle borne terrorism
threat from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attack

They are also responsible for the protective security of crowded places (areas where there may be large crowds who could be vulnerable to terrorist attack) for example shopping centres, sporting stadiums, pubs and bars or transport hubs.

Contact your CTSA

Please see our downloadable list of CTSA contact details if you wish to contact the CTSA in your police force area.

The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA)

The NPSA website provides the following general advice with regards to protective security products:

“NPSA has produced guidance known as Protective Security Management Systems (PSeMS). PSeMS supports a proactive approach for assessing and managing holistic security risks. It’s designed for senior leadership teams and security managers.

PSeMS raises the profile and importance of security at all levels across your organisation. It establishes the need for senior management support, review and oversight promoting the need for security investment. Having an accountable manager at board level, your senior management teams will see the benefit of having security governed, resourced and managed.

As with all management systems, PSeMS provides for goal-setting, performance measurement and planning. It focuses on maximising opportunities to continuously improve security and the system itself. It is not all about implementing new processes, but ensuring existing processes are fit for purpose and optimise a holistic approach to security.

PSeMS guidance does not replace ISO Standards but should be used as a gateway to other existing Industry Standards and regulatory frameworks, accreditation and certification schemes.”

The full guidance includes a self-assessment checklist and case studies and can be found here.

Specialist Private Sector Security Consultants

A simple Google search will bring up private sector security industry consultancies – but how to sort one from another? One way is to look for a company or individual that is listed on the Register of Security Engineers and Specialists (RSES). Another is to look for a company or individual that is a member of the Protective Security Suppliers Association (PSSA). Alternatively, seek recommendations from contacts within your own sector.