Dear colleagues,

Please can all staff familiarise themselves
with the following information below and attached regarding the UK
threat level which has been raised to
CRITICAL.

The threat from international
terrorism is a significant concern for the UK.

Assessments of the level and nature of the
threat are made by JTAC (Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre) and are
designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of a
terrorist attack.

Today the threat level to the UK has been
raised from ‘Severe’ which is defined as ‘an attack is highly
likely’ to ‘CRITICAL’ – an attack is expected
imminently. This is to the UK as a whole and does not
necessarily mean the Trust area.

The Trust has a plan in place to support the
additional requirements under these circumstances. This will be
co-ordinated through Mission Control.

In the event of a Major Incident (MI), the
Trust MI plan will be activated along with additional specialist
response plans as required.

We all have our part to play in ensuring the
safety and security of ourselves, the public and the Trust.

Please ensure you follow these simple
steps:

  • All staff to remain vigilant for suspicious activity and report
    immediately to Duty National Inter-Agency Liaison Officer (NILO) /
    Tactical Advisor in the Mission Control, or if immediate danger
    exists, to the police via the 999 system. For confidential
    reporting use the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789 321.
  • More information can be found at:
    https://www.mi5.gov.uk/home/what-you-can-do/what-to-look-for.html
  • All staff are to carry their photographic service
    identification and must show it when requested.
  • Ensure the security of Trust premises by keeping doors / gates
    and windows locked while not in use and don’t allow ‘tailgating’
    either by vehicle or on foot through doors / gates.
  • Challenge unknown persons on Trust premises.
  • Ensure vehicles are locked when in public places.
  • Uniformed personnel (including support roles) should not travel
    to and from a place of work in visible uniform. This restriction
    should also apply to places of work where uniformed personnel walk
    off site to run errands. All efforts should be made to cover up
    visible uniform.
  • Ensure ICT equipment is safely stored and logged off or locked
    when left unattended.
  • Remove Trust/Ambulance Service car window stickers when not on
    Trust premises.

Should the unlikely eventuality arise where
you are involved in a serious situation here is some useful
advice.

Firearms Incidents

The ‘stay safe’ principles – SEE, TELL, ACT
are designed to keep you as safe as possible:

Stay Safe:

  • Under immediate GUN FIRE – Initially take cover and leave the
    area as soon as it is safe to do so
  • Nearby GUN FIRE – Leave the area as soon as it safe to do
    leaving all belongings behind
  • Do not congregate at evacuation points.

 

Remember there are two types of
cover:

Cover from GUN FIRE – First choice cover (This
will offer some protection from being hit by a bullet)

  • Substantial brickwork or concrete
  • Engine blocks of motor vehicles
  • Base of large live trees
  • Large mounds of earth/hills.

 

Cover from VIEW – Alternate choice (This will
NOT stop bullets from hitting you but will hide you from
sight).

  • Car doors
  • Curtains
  • Partition/stud walls
  • Wooden fences.

 

If you can’t escape: consider
locking yourself in a room or cupboard preferably with another
means of escape, barricade the door then stay away from it. Keep
quiet and remember to silence mobile phones etc.

See:

The initial responder is the vital link in the
communications chain. Where possible and if it safe to do
so, gather information to relay back to the police.

Think about the following:

  • Exact location of incident
  • Number and description of the
    gunmen
  • Are they carrying anything else
    (e.g. rucksacks)
  • Are they static or moving in any
    particular direction

 

Type of firearm – long barrelled or
handgun

  • Number of casualties or people in the area.
  • The more information that can be passed on the better
    but never risk your own safety or that of others to do
    so.

 

Tell:

  • Information needs to be passed on quickly, briefly and
    accurately to allow early mobilisation of the appropriate
    resources.
  • If you think you have a firearms incident inform Emergency
    Operations Centre (EOC) immediately.
  • Ensure accuracy – avoid making assumptions
  • Use all channels of communication available to warn and inform
    others via EOC.

Act:

  • Secure your immediate area.
  • Keep people out of vulnerable public areas (e.g.
    corridors).
  • Move away from doors.
  • Remain quiet.
  • Avoid quick movements towards armed police officers (you may be
    mistaken for a gunman).

 

A short DVD with more information for
non-specialist responders entitled ‘Non-specialist Marauding
Terrorist Firearms Attack (MTFA) Responder Awareness’ can be found
by following this
link

CBRN incidents

All frontline and EOC staff will have viewed
an ‘Initial Operational Response’ video this can be viewed by
following this
link.

Terrorism prevention

Channel is part of the Governments Prevent
strategy. The process is a multi-agency approach to identify and
provide support to individuals who are at risk of being drawn into
terrorism. A short Home Office e-learning program can be found
at:

http://course.ncalt.com/Channel_General_Awareness/01/index.html

Joe Garcia, Director of
Operations