The City Security Council (CSC) and the City of London Police (CoLP) have launched an initiative to improve responses to major incidents such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters.
The Major Incidents, JESIP and Reception Centres: Joint response training is a new programme designed to boost awareness of procedures and encourage collaboration between private security firms and the police in the City of London. The aim is to raise awareness and standards of security in the industry and to apply the training proactively rather than learning after the next major incident.
The training follows the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP), established in 2012 to ensure the blue-light services (Police, Fire, Ambulance) are trained to work together in response to major incidents so as many lives as possible can be saved.
The programme covers various areas of response to major incidents involving mass fatalities, including SRCs (Survivor Response Centres) and has been created by CSC Operations Board Member Jon Felix, together with Detective Constable Hannah Knight, supported by Chief Inspector Ray Marksell from City of London Police.
The sessions focus on understanding what and how intelligence and resources can be shared between City of London Police and private security firms.
Ray Marskell of City of London Police gives further details; “Knowing who to brief or request information from when an incident occurs, knowing where to direct those involve, and sharing the right information through the correct chains can improve response times and reduce the impact of an incident.”
Jon Felix, CSC Operations Board Member commented; “These sessions will bolster the fantastic work being carried out in the ACT (Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security) and SCaN anti-terrorism and security training. The better our staff are trained, the better the response for all – not just our clients and their buildings, but wider communities too.”
Ashley Fernandes, Chair of the CSC adds; “We believe collaboration between the police and private security firms gives the most effective response to major incidents. The new programme, delivered jointly with the CoLP, also adds a vital level of credible training to the private security industry. In time we hope the programme will be certificated by an official awarding body.”
Sessions for Major Incidents, JESIP and Reception Centres: Joint response training are running throughout the year and are available to all CSC members to book on the next workshop in your area or to find out more email operations@citysecuritycouncil.com.
