Responding to the constant threat of terrorist attacks in the UK, the Security Minister, Lord West, has launched a new public consultation that details the role of local authorities, communities, business houses and people in general in the fight against terrorism.

The document focuses on security in crowded places and is called ‘Working Together to Protect Crowded Places’. It was released by Lord West in Birmingham at a regional event, and gives information on CONTEST, which is government’s new counter-terrorism strategy.

The consultation will assist people in understanding their roles for ensuring safety in crowded places such as clubs, cinema halls, malls etc. Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs) will also help organisations prioritise their work based on an assessment that will be made of crowded places. This study on risky areas is the first of its kind in the country.

The need for looking into these safety issues arises after incidents around the world in which people have lost their lives due to security lapses in crowded areas. West said that at most places, safety issues were being looked into in detail; however, the advice coming in from the consultation needs to be properly executed for the efforts to be successful. Moreover, the government or the police alone cannot succeed in creating a more secure environment. All organisations and people in general need to contribute to achieve the goal of a safer country.

The government has allocated £5 million for implementation of strategies to thwart terrorist attacks. Practical advice has also been launched for builders, so that they can plan and design crowded places while keeping in mind the vulnerabilities that terrorists tend to exploit.

Contact the experts at Workplace Law Training to find out about their range of risk assessment courses which can assist companies in training staff to be aware of the proper health and safety procedures for all kinds of workplace situations.