Small businesses to help police in ‘war on terror’

Detective Constable Ian Mansfield – counter-terrorism security advisor to the City of London Police – has unveiled plans to extend Project Griffin (an innovative scheme designed to enlist the assistance of private security personnel in reporting suspicious acts and helping with low level policing duties) to small and medium-sized businesses. The announcement was made at a Reliance Security Services Conference in the Capital just prior to Christmas.

Two pilot studies for Project Griffin 2 as the scheme is currently known will begin in the first quarter of 2007. The authorities are keen on enlisting additional ‘eyes and ears’ that can spot (and subsequently disrupt) anyone perceived as undertaking ‘hostile reconnaissance’ prior to a terrorist attack. If successful the scheme will be expanded to all UK police services.

“It’s a Neighbourhood Watch for all small and medium-sized businesses,” suggested Mansfield. “One business in a designated area will serve as the contact point for others, and be responsible for liaising with the police. We want to see a return to ‘old-fashioned values’ where people and businesses used to talk to one another. Knowing about other businesses in the area is an important facet of security management for all professionals in that position.”

Among the warning signs of potential hostile reconnaissance are someone taking a significant interest in the outside of a building (or buildings), two or more individuals studying the location of CCTV cameras at a particular location and someone taking photos of or making notes about a site or building.

Other signs include vehicles being left outside a building for longer than is normal, activity inconsistent with the nature of the location and the use of disguises (including motor cycle crash helmets).